India: 'Humayun's Garden Party/The Princes of the House of Timur'. Gouache and gold on cotton painting by Mir Sayyid 'Ali (1510-1572), c. 1550-1555 The earliest known example of a Mughal painting, it portrays a ruler seated in a garden pavilion. He is flanked by two servants and is conversing with a visitor. Surrounding him are courtiers and nobles and servants. The missing foreground probably depicted entertainers. The central figure is believed to be Humayun (1508-56), the second Mughal Emperor, while many of the heads were repainted to depict later Mughal rulers, such as Akbar and Jahangir

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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.

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Size: 4368px × 4010px
Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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