Painting of a camel and its rider, catalogued as ‘Mughal India, 17th century’ – £19,000 at Roseberys.
Catalogued by Roseberys (25% buyer’s premium) on October 26 as ‘Mughal India, 17th century’, the 9¾ x 7in (25 x 18cm) work on paper was framed with six verses of nasta’liq (Perso-Arabic script), dated 1028 AH (1618-19AD) and signed Muhammed Sharif.
The signature could be a reference to the patron who commissioned it rather than the artist, however. Khvajeh Mohammad-Sharif was a Persian statesman who relocated to Mughal India and eventually was appointed chief minister of Emperor Jahangir (r.1605-27).
Either way, despite suffering from some stains and losses, particularly to green paint around the camel’s feet, it drew protracted competition against a £3000-4000 estimate and sold at £19,000.
