Lot 127
YOUNG WOMAN IN A GREEN SARI
INDIA, RAJASTHAN OR PUNJAB HILLS, 19TH CENTURY
Auction: 10 June 2026 from 14:00 BST
Description
ink and watercolour on paper, a young woman in a green sari, Cary Welch's handwritten note on the blackboard of the frame reads “Jagdish Mittal thinks that this is from Rajasthan - not from the Punjab hills - probably Bikaner or even Kishangarh - Feb 1 1995"
Dimensions
9.3cm x 10cm
Provenance
Formerly, the Stuart Cary Welch Collection (1928-2008); acquired, Sotheby's, The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, Part Two, Art of India, 31st May 2011, Lot 142.
Footnote
The young woman in a green sari is exquisitely painted. This drawing not only highlights the passion and fascination that Stuart Cary Welch had with Indian miniature painting, but also the readiness to discuss the attributions with other great minds within the field.
Fine portraiture has always been a distinctive quality of Indian painting across the centuries. For further examples and discussion see: M.C. Beach and E. Koch, King of the World, The Padshahnama, A Mughal Manuscript from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, London, 1997; M. Archer and T. Falk, India Revealed The Art and Adventures of James and William Fraser, London, 1989; E. Hannam et al, Beyond the Page South Asian Miniatures and Britain, 1600 to now, Milton Keynes Gallery Exhibition Catalogue, London, 2023; B. Keskiner and M. Keskiner, When Elephants walked with Kings, Kent Antiques exhibition catalogue, London, 2026, no. 50.