Object Details
Court
Mughal Court
School/Tradition
Mughal school
Provenance
?-?
Possibly Georges Demotte (1877-1923), method of acquisition unknown [1]
By 1903-1942
Henri Vever (1854-1942), possibly purchased from Georges Demotte [2]
1942-1947
Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [3]
1947-1986
Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [4]
From 1986
National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from Francois Mautin [5]
NOTES
[1] See annotation “Dem” on old matting, wooden backing, which suggests the work was estimated and possibly sold by Georges Demotte to Vever. Georges Demotte was a collector and dealer of Islamic and medieval European art. He had galleries in Paris and New York City.
[2] See Gaston Migeon et al, “Exposition des arts Musulmans: Catalogue descriptif" [exhibition catalogue] (Paris, Société française d’Imprimerie et de Librairie, 1903), no. 904. The publication cites Vever as the owner and describes the work as “Cheval au repos, mi-partie rouge, mi-partie noir, revêtu d’une house blanche.”
An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. This object was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942.
[3] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the object. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.
[4] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This object is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 3.
[5] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file. This work is part of the Museum’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection.
Research updated February 2, 2024.
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Previous custodian or owner
Georges Demotte (1877-1923)
Henri Vever (1854-1942)
Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)
François Mautin (1907-2003)
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Date
19th century
Accession Number
S1986.445
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Painting
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (overall): 31.6 x 22.1 cm (12 7/16 x 8 11/16 in)
Origin
India
Related Online Resources
Google Arts & Culture
See more items in
National Museum of Asian Art
Data Source
National Museum of Asian Art
Topic
horse
India
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Henri Vever collection
Link to Original Record
Record ID
fsg_S1986.445