Central Asia, India, possibly Gujarat or Kashmir, Mughal Period, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. Finely delineated in tempera and gold leaf on handmade paper, a miniature painting of a fascinating scene in which an emperor dressed in opulent garments highlighted with gold leaf and a bejeweled turban is perhaps wounded or asleep while his horse is attacking a tiger below. Six other nobles dressed in similar regal attire delineated in gold leaf and brilliant hues look on from above. The composition is marked with a linear border and surrounded by repeated floating golden cloud motifs on the handmade paper. Size: 8.875" L x 6" W (22.5 cm x 15.2 cm); 16.2" L x 12.625" W (41.1 cm x 32.1 cm) framed
The Mughals, Islamic dynasty rulers of northern India between 1526 and 1857, were known for their great patronage of the arts. Artists created intricate paintings and illuminated manuscripts depicting scenes of daily life, adventurous tales, mythological and royalty scenes. The compositions are beautifully balanced and finely painted in rich tones.
Miniature painting emerged in Persian art during the 13th century. Following the Mongol conquests, the genre displayed strong Chinese influence, and the tradition reached its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries. Furthermore, Persian miniature painting influenced other Islamic miniature traditions, including the Ottoman miniatures created in Turkey as well as the Mughal miniatures of India.
Mughal painting refers to a type of miniature painting - either serving as book illustrations or created as single work. The term miniature suggests a tiny scale; however, it actually indicates a style of watercolor work similar to early European book illustrations that used the red pigment minia, and some Indian miniatures are in fact quite large. The Mughal style stems from Persian miniature painting, though with Indian Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist influences, evolving largely throughout the Mughal Empire (16th to 19th centuries), and eventually spreading to other Indian courts - Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh - flourishing during the reigns of Akbar, Shah Jahan, and Jahangir. The tradition continues today with Mughal-style miniature paintings still being created, though only by a relatively small number of artists in Rajasthan.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection
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#148337
Condition
This painting has not been examined outside the frame. There appear to be a few minor vertical crease marks and slight stains, but the imagery is very well preserved. Framing shows a few minor scuffs, but is otherwise very good.