Portrait of a woman, Mughal India, late 18th - early 19th century Gouache and gold on paper depicting a standing woman in profile, facing left, her right hand raised, her legs hidden by the frame. She is richly adorned with pearls and her head is covered with a long green veil with golden floral motifs. Above her head, an orange frame captioning the subject in Persian or Urdu nasta'liq in black ink. Painting mounted on an album page with alternating midnight-blue borders painted with gilded scrolls and cartouches inscribed in Persian nast'aliq. On the back, calligraphy in Persian ta'liq composed of several multidirectional lines in black ink in pinkish reserves on a gilded background. Framed by a midnight-blue border painted with gilded bifid palmettes and a red margin with gilded floral decoration. Remains of an old label n°15 top right. Framed. Painting size: 17.6 x 10 cm; calligraphy size: 23.5 cm x 13.7 cm; page size: 30.1 x 20.5 cm Significant polychromy and gilding marks, traces of repentance in the background of the head, stains, small chips, adhesive and pencilling in the upper margin of the reverse. Paris private collection, lots 166 to 193.