A PORTRAIT OF THE MUGHAL EMPEROR HUMAYUN, ENTHRONED
Possibly Delhi or Awadh (Oudh), Northern India, 18th century

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting the Mughal Emperor Humayun on a sumptuous low throne, the lobed backrest gilt and engraved with vegetal motifs, the emperor dressed in a Safavid fashion with an orange robe and broad brocaded light blue overcoat, the headdress enhanced with a black heron feather, standing next to him an attendant with a pearl earring holding a handkerchief, stylised birds flying in the high horizon, mounted, glazed and framed, with an old label of the picture framer Ernest Wheatley at the back, 42cm x 30.5cm including the frame.