Jahangir''s portrait sold for record Rs 10 cr at London auction

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New Delhi, Apr 6 :A life-size portrait of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, one of the largest known Mughal painting, fetched an auction record Rs 10 crore (1.4 million pounds) in London on Tuesday.
The 17th century portrait painted in gold and watercolour on white canvas and portraying Jahangir seated on a gold decorated throne holding a globe, wearing elaborate robes and jewellery went under the hammer at the Bonhams Indian and Islamic Sale.
"This is one of the rarest and most desirable 17th century paintings ever to come to auction. There is no other work of its kind known and its importance cannot be underestimated," said Alice Bailey, Head of Indian and Islamic Art at Bonhams.
The artwork has been bought by a museum in the Midde East. "The extraordinary detail and complexity of the painting both fascinate and bewitch the viewer. We are honoured to have sold it," said Bailey.
It is believed that the portrait dated AH 1026/AD 1617 and painted by the artist Abul Hasan was executed while Jehangir was in Mandu in 1617.
Previously shown in the National Portrait Gallery in London in an exhibition on the Indian Portrait in 2010, the Emperor is shown decked in elaborate robes and jewellery seated on a gold European-style decorated throne holding a globe.
The picture is a political tour de force in which the Emperor lays claim to a world-wide ambition. This is achieved through its full life-size magnificence, use of precious items in it s creation, and the words that accompany it, all make his all conquering ambition plain.
There is a circular pendant around the Emperor''s neck set with mica, with jade and glass vessels at his side and carpet under his feet.
Another important item in the sale was an inscribed Mughal emerald personal seal set in a diamond encrusted gold bangle and bearing the name of Major Alexander Hannay, an East India Company officer. It sold for 90,000 pounds well above its pre-sale estimate of 40,000 to 60,000 pounds.
The rectangular 18th century emerald is table-cut and was mounted in an enamelled gold bangle with a Persian inscription in the early 19th century. Major Alexander Hannay was in the service of the East India Company under William Hastings at the time when the company had transferred its trading role into a more military administrative one.
In 1778, Hannay left Hastings'' service and entered that of the Nawab of Oudh. He managed the district of Gorakhpur, when during this period there were a number of disturbances as a result of his suspected oppression and misconduct. The bangle has passed down through the family to the present owner. .