India: Princes of the House of Timur, Abd al-Samad (Mirza Ali), c. 1550.

This is the earliest known example of a Mughal painting. The painting is in colours and gold on fine cotton fabric. What has survived of the picture depicts a ruler seated in a garden pavilion and wearing Central Asian dress. He is flanked by two servants and faces a visitor. To either side of him are courtiers and nobles and, in the background, servants. The missing foreground probably depicted dancers and musicians performing a courtly entertainment. The central figure is believed to be Humayun (1508-56), the second Mughal Emperor; many of the heads were repainted to depict later Mughal rulers, creating a genealogical scene.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History

Theme:

Mongol Khans, Mughal Empire,