SIX RARE MINIATURES OF MUSICIANS.
India. 19th c. Company school.

Pigments on extremely thin mica plate. Backed with a yellowish cardboard; framed with glass. Each 10 x 7cm; frame 25 x 21cm. Condition A/B.

The very unusual base material consists of wafer-thin slices of mica; a stone from the group of phyllosilicates. The painting was made like reverse painting on glass; build up from the finest details to the colors covering the figure. Only the figures are painted; the background consists of a cardboard.

Provenance:
-Ex The O'Shea Gallery; London.

Compare:
-The collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London contains several mica paintings
from the company school. According to an estimate; no more than 7;000 of these paintings exist worldwide.Art trade; Van Ham.