A laggar falcon, Lucknow, Company School, circa 1775-85. Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 GBP. Lot. sold 20,000 GBP. Photo Sotheby's

gouache on thick cream paper, inscribed in nasta’liq script in black ink and numbered '583' - 47.6 by 32.1cm.

Provenance: Commissioned by Major-General Claude Martin, Lucknow (1735-1800)
Christie’s, London, 30 September 1997, lot 13 

Exhibition: The Lucknow Menagerie, Natural History Drawings from the Collection of Claude Martin (1735-1800), Niall Hobhouse, Walpole Gallery, London, 2001 

Bibliography: Antiques Trade Gazette, London, 20 September 1997
London 2001, under footnote 9a 

Notes: For a study of the natural history drawings made for Claude Martin (1735-1800) at Lucknow, together with a catalogue of 76 of these drawings which were later in the collection of the first Earl of Liverpool, see London 2001. For drawings from the same series, see Archer 1992, p.122, no.90; Pal et al. 1972, pl.LXIX; London 1983, no.58; Christie’s, London, 9 November 1977, lots 20-21, pl.2; 25 May 1995, lot 29; 30 September 1997, lots 1-20; New York, 25 May 1978, lot 9; Sotheby’s, London, 14 October 1980, lot 233; 17 June 1999, lots 70-82.

Two other albums containing drawings, from the same series, of 43 birds, 4 reptiles, a fox, flowers and plants, were formerly with Luzac & Co. Ltd., London.

Sotheby's. The Sven Gahlin Collection, Londres, 06 oct. 2015