An exhibition of South Asian miniature paintings opens at the MK Gallery in Milton Keynes, UK, this autumn (South Asian miniature painting and Britain, 1600–present, 7 October-26 January 2024) includes four items from the Royal Collection which will be on public display for the first time. These include an illuminated watercolor from a 15th-century manuscript, depicting the 9th-century Saint Rabia al-Adawiyya of Basra, the first saint in Islam.
The exhibition brings together more than 180 small works dating from the 16th century, appreciated for their portability and technicality. The miniatures depict scenes from sacred and secular texts, mythological figures and political narratives. Curators Hammad Nasar and Anthony Spira will also explore how the miniatures ended up in British collections via acquisitions made by James I in the early 17th century and also via employees of the colonial East India Company.
Other items from the royal collection seen for the first time include a gold painted page of Persian verses, written by Nizami, an epic poet of Persian literature and an illustrated copy of the Ichqnama (Book of Love) a manuscript containing 104 illustrations commissioned during the reign of the last king of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah (reigned, 1847-56).
by Shahzia Sikander The Pet Man Explosion (2011)
Private collection, London / Karachi
At the same time, works by contemporary artists inspired by the miniature tradition are also present, notably The Pet Man Explosion (2011) by Shazia Sikander and Imran Qureshi A lover waits for his beloved (1999).
Pakistani artist Ali Kazim presents a series of 16 portraits in response to a drawing of the Society School (a style of miniature Indian miniature painting developed by artists who worked for patrons of the East India Company during 18th and 19th centuries) housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London as well as a large watercolor drawing (Bird Conference2020).
Attributed to Abid, Padshahnamah, Prince Khurram leaves Ajmer for his first Deccan campaign (October 30, 1616), around 1635-40
Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023
Kazim tells The arts journal“I remember my formative years at the National College of Arts Lahore inspiring me in various ways. I was unaware of miniature painting and printmaking until my freshman year in art school. I enjoyed learning these disciplines during the preparatory year.
Another participating artist, Kuwaiti-born Hamra Abbas, says, “Miniature painting has influenced my works in multiple ways, from painting to digital works and sculptural installations. Currently I am using a combination of miniature painting and gongbi [a Chinese painting technique] for painting small photorealistic portraits on silk.
The exhibition will also feature works from the collections of the British Museum in London and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
