Lot 67
GROUP OF SIX SULTANATE ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE ISKANDARNAMA ‡
NORTH INDIA, SULTANATE, CIRCA 1500
Auction: 10 June 2026 from 14:00 BST
Description
gouache on paper cut down from a manuscript laid down on brown paper, the scenes depict a) Alexander meets a hybrid human being; Alexander on horseback encounters male figures emerging from tall jars; b) Alexander consults an astrologer; a makara, a strange creature of the Eastern seas; c) Alexander on horseback accompanied by an attendant, also on horseback and waving a chauri, receiving a courtier bowing before him; a swirling ocean
Dimensions
Each approx. 11cm x 15.8cm
Provenance
Private collection, Spain.
Footnote
These vivacious illustrations are to the Iskandar Nama and are from a Sultanate manuscript from Northern India dating to circa 1500. They were commissioned by the early sultans of Delhi, hence the term 'Sultanate'. These sultans were foreign invaders conquering the Northern Plains of India who retained their Persian language, customs and Islamic religion. The paintings are particularly distinctive with their strong palettes often featuring bright brick-red colours and figures outlined in black with the use of a broad brush.
For further discussion, see: S.C. Welch and M.C. Beach, Gods, Thrones and Peacocks, New York, 1965, no. 2; K. Khandalavala and M. Chandra, New Documents of Indian Painting, Bombay, 1969, p.56; Fine Indian and Persian Miniatures and a Manuscript selected from the well-known collection of Cary Welch, Sotheby & Co., 12th December , 1972, lots 178 and 179, and; E. Binney, Indian Miniature Painting from the Collection of Edwin Binney, 3rd., Portland, Oregon, 1973, no. 5.