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Lot 50: Frederick Christian Lewis (1813-1875)

Est: £3,000 GBP - £5,000 GBP
Christie'sLondon, United KingdomSeptember 27, 2006

Item Overview

Description

Portrait of a young Indian prince, seated wearing a jama, jewelled ropes of pearls and a jewelled turban
inscribed 'sketch' (lower right)
oil on canvas
30 x 22 1/4 in. (76.2 x 56.5cm.)

Notes

VARIOUS PROPERTIES

Lewis arrived in India in 1839 and stayed for 10 years moving from court to court 'painting rulers seated in durbar glittering with jewels and surrounded by servants with peacock-feather fans, yak's tails and fringed parasols. He returned to India from 1851 to 1855 and yet again from 1863-1866.' (M. Archer and R. Lightbown, India Observed, London, 1982, p.107) He was one of the first British artists to work for the princely Indian courts as they began to equip their palaces with European paintings and furniture and he recorded the durbars at their zenith, before they were dimmed by the British influence. The present portrait was presumably a sketch for incorporation into one of these large durbar scenes.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Auction Details

Exploration and Travel with the Polar Sale Including The Amundsen Collection

by
Christie's
September 27, 2006, 12:00 AM EST

8 King Street, St. James's, London, LDN, SW1Y 6QT, UK