Portrait of the Begum Samru, née Farzana Zeb un-Nissa, marri - Lot 88

Portrait of the Begum Samru, née Farzana Zeb un-Nissa, married under the Christian name of Joanna Nobilis Sombre (c. 1753-1836). English school, early 19th century Oil on canvas stretched over a gilded wooden frame. 36.3 x 31.2 cm Acquired at public auction: Parker Fine Art, sale March 18, 2021, London, lot 27. Other portraits of Begum Samru are held in museums such as the Victoria and Albert museum in London (IS 03554) and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada ( 2022.49.24). Born Farzana Zebun-Nissa, she was a 15-year-old dancer and daughter of a Kashmiri merchant, when she met her husband Walter Reindhart. She converted to Christianity and became Begum Samru. After her husband's death, she led his army to defend the Sardhana district of Uttar Pradesh. A Catholic convert and patron of the arts, she financed the construction of a church. This painting testifies to her high social status in the first half of the 19th century.