TWO MAIDENS CONVERSING IN A LANDSCAPEMUGHAL, BY A FOLLOWER OF GOVARDHAN II, CIRCA 1735-40 Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; laid down on an album page; attribution to Govardhan [II] in nasta'liq script in lower border; verso with a calligraphicposition in nasta'liq script by Sayyid 'Ali Tabrizi, known as Javaher Raqam Image: 6 1/4 x 4 1/2 in. (16 x 11.5 cm); Folio: 9 7/8 x 8 in. (25 x 20.3 cm) The inscription reads: 'The work of Govardhan'[II]. The artist known as Govardhan II (to distinguish him from the famous Shah Jahan-period artist) worked in the reign of the Emperor Muhammad Shah (reg. 1719-48), and was one of the most prominent painters working for him. He was the only known artist of the period to collaborate on an illustrated manuscript of imperial quality (for which see the entry for a manuscript of Rai Anand Ram Mukhlis' Karnama-i 'Ishq, in J. P. Losty, M. Roy, Mughal India: Art, Culture and Empire , London 2012, pp. 196-201, figs. 138-45). See also a work of circa 1738, depicting Muhammad Shah with his wazir , and the discussion there (op. cit., p. 166, fig. 108). There are several works by him or in his style now in the British Library, which portray ( inter alia ) standing maidens: see T. Falk, M. Archer, Indian Miniatures in the India Office Library , London 1981, pp. 110-1, nos. 169-74. The calligraphicpositionprises two couplets by Jami in fine nasta'liq script, and is signed katabahu javaher raqam , 'Javaher Raqam copied it'. Sayyid 'Ali Tabrizi (d. AH 1094/AD 1683), a resident of Isfahan, moved to India with his father Mir Muqim during Shah Jahan period. He was made a teacher to Prince Aurangzeb (later 'Alamgir) and received the title Javaher Raqam from Shah Jahan. Under 'Alamgir, he was honoured with the title Khan, the rank of one thousand, appointed the private scribe and was placed in charge of the Royal library. His recorded works are calligraphic pages dated between AH 1062/AD 1651-52) and AH 1086/AD 1675-76. See M. Bayani, Ahval va athar-e khawshnavisan , vol. II, Tehran 1346sh, pp. 447-449).