Portrait of a Begum smoking a narghile

Portrait of a Begum smoking a narghile

India, Company School, late 19th century

Polychrome gouache with gold highlights. A richly adorned young woman, seated against a cushion and in front of a red curtain, holding a narghile mouthpiece. Black wooden frame, inscribed in French in gilded ink at the top "Une begum" and at the bottom "Miniature Hindou". Sight size: 11 x 7.3 cm; frame size: 18 x 14 cm. Provenance: Private collection, Paris. Portrait of a Begum smoking a narghile pipe, India, Company School, late 19th century