Rare 19th-Century Portrait of Mughal Spiritual Adviser Sells for £63,500 in London

A rare 19th-century portrait of Ghulam Nasir al-Din, known as Kale Miyan and a spiritual adviser to Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, was sold for £63,500 at a London auction in 2026. The painting, created in Delhi between 1851 and 1852, is the only known depiction of Kale Miyan. It was part of The Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection and exceeded its estimated value by £13,500.

Key facts

• The portrait is the only known depiction of Ghulam Nasir al-Din, known as Kale Miyan.
• It was created in Delhi between 1851 and 1852.
• The painting was sold at Christie's in London for £63,500 in 2026.
• It was part of The Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection of Indian Painting and Calligraphy.

Sources

• Times of India