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The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb - a posthumous portrait, circa late 18th century. Gouache and gold laid onto stout card. 22cm x 16cm. Image 11.5cm x 6.5cm.

A Mughal miniature painting with the subject a posthumous portrait of Emperor Aurangzeb, who reigned for half a century from 1658 to his death in 1707.  Painted in Awadh (otherwise known as Oudh), it shows extensive use of gold leaf, including his robe, turban band, throughout the drape over the window ledge, in the innermost border's motif as well as that of the outer border, with the outside edges of the leaf also liberally speckled with gold flecks.  Detail in the painting is exceedingly fine, with minute elements such as the recurring gold pattern on his white jama best seen under a magnifying glass, as is the hair of his beard and the fine lines of fur in his collar.  This lavish attention on minor elements even continues in his outer robe, painted entirely in gold leaf, with the tiniest flower-sprig motifs and the entire gold surface of material delicately striated with a fine-pointed instrument to create an astonishingly textured surface