A maiden being led to her bedchamber, with calligraphy by Muhammad Amin al-Mashhadi, Mughal, Delhi or Lucknow, circa 1755-65

gouache heightened with gold on paper, inner border comprising gold scrolling floral motifs on buff ground, outer narrow gold border, polychrome rules, with wide gold-flecked margins, the upper margin with Persian inscription in black nasta'liq script ''tasvir-e hosn-e 'alam kayfi vaqt-e shab'' ('Image of the beauty of the world intoxicated at night'), the reverse with a Persian quatrain in black nasta'liq script by Muhammad Amin al-Mashhadi, the lower margin with old typed sale label

painting 24.2 by 18.5cm; leaf 49 by 33.7cm.

Condition Report:
The corners, edges and lower margin of the folio with some staining, the corners slightly scuffed, very minor rubbing to inscription in upper margin, the inner gold floral borders with minor losses, the painting in overall good condition, minor areas of staining, the pigments and gold are vibrant particularly on the figures, minor pigment loss and rubbing mainly to the sky and the roof of the pavilion, the reverse with areas of staining and minor losses to ink and pigments, as viewed.