India & Punjab – ‘The Lucknow Begum’ (Begum Hazrat Mahal) 19th Century Indian Miniature Painting appears on Ivory, in blacked glass surround, measures 43x56mm, with provenance written on the reverse ‘The Lucknow Begum’ Begum Hazrat Mahal was the only Queen left in Lucknow after the King was banished to Calcutta in 1856. She remained there during the Mutiny and declared her son King of Oude, taking an active part as a leader of the rebels. She eventually withdrew to asylum in Nepal, where she died in 1879. She is now lauded as a hero of the Indian rebellion. There are only two original portraits of Hazrat Mahal and as such this is an exceptionally rare item of unique interest. Provenance: The information to the reverse of this item indicates it was taken from the Palace of Lucknow, this could have only happened during the Indian Mutiny in March 1858 when the city was captured and subsequently looted. The Palace could either be the Begum Kothi or the [Qasiar Bagh] (Kaiserbagh), both of which saw heavy fighting and much looting.