A PORTRAIT OF THE NAWAB OF AWADH, SAFDAR JANG (1708 - 1754), AND HIS SPOUSE, AMAT JAHAN BEGUM
Awadh (Oudh), Northern India, 19th century

Opaque pigments and gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting the Nawab Vazier of Awadh, Safdar Jang, standing on the left, wearing the typical gold-embroidered Mughal overcoat on a plain white muslin robe, a golden sash around his waist and bright yellow slippers, his white turban enhanced by a gold band surmounted by a gemstone-encrusted turban ornament (sarpech), holding in the right hand a North Indian tulwar sword with traditional spiky finial and thick handguard, next to him, a fully bejewelled and finely clad courtly lady, most probably his spouse Amat Jahan Begum, seated on a chair, her diaphanous robe and shawl showcasing the lavishness of her attire, her forehead adorned with the typical crescent moon pendant (maang tikka) used by married women during their wedding celebrations, mounted, glazed and framed, 35.5cm x 24.5cm including the frame.

Provenance: in a private UK collection since at least 1975, purchased in an antique shop by the present owner's father.

In the British Museum and V&A Museum's collections, there are two 18th-century Mughal album pages with portraits of Safdar Jung (respectively inv. nos. 1920,0917,0.14 and CIRC.228-1922). The Nawab is presented with a full-on pointy beard with thick moustache; in both cases, he is wearing a floral Mughal overcoat and an elaborate turban. In the British Museum example, the closest to ours from a stylistic point of view, the Nawab is wearing yellow boots and is holding a tulwar sword with spiky finial, in an analogous fashion to this lot. An able administrator, Safdar Jang soon became a central figure at the Delhi court, acting as a loyal supporter and last stronghold of the increasingly weakened late Mughal dynasty.