拍品专文
This is a rare example of a watercolour by a Lucknow artist from this period since the majority of pictures were destroyed in the Lucknow mutiny of 1858. The present watercolour shows the influence of the artist Tilly Kettle (1735-1786) who was in Lucknow in the early 1770s and whose style was copied by a number of indigenous artists of that time.
The present watercolour shows the Harem of the King of Oudh, the Nawab of Oudh, Ghazi al-Din Haidar, in 1819 who was given the title of King by King George III in order to set up a rival power to the moghul Emperors in Delhi. In the centre of the group seated, is probably the Queen and to the far right stands the man holding the Staff of Office who would have been in charge of the harem. Next to him is an Indian woman holding a pan box and behind her are two men dressed as women. On the left hand side stands an elderly eunuch. The western style carpet is an example of the influence of European taste on the Lucknow community.
The present watercolour shows the Harem of the King of Oudh, the Nawab of Oudh, Ghazi al-Din Haidar, in 1819 who was given the title of King by King George III in order to set up a rival power to the moghul Emperors in Delhi. In the centre of the group seated, is probably the Queen and to the far right stands the man holding the Staff of Office who would have been in charge of the harem. Next to him is an Indian woman holding a pan box and behind her are two men dressed as women. On the left hand side stands an elderly eunuch. The western style carpet is an example of the influence of European taste on the Lucknow community.