This painting has a markedly Persian style a mannered miniature with dazzling colours in the luminous Safavid tradition. It is executed in a manner closely resembling mid 16th century Persian which had figures with attenuated bodies, long necks, miniscule hands and narrow almond shaped eyes. This painting is an illustration of a narrative tale and despite its interesting spatial distortion and faulty perspective, expresses the energy and excitement of the action with dramatic intensity.
A starved man with a lean body, ribs visible and limbs with barely any flesh, sits on a bright rug, surrounded by animals. He is being visited by a lady and that arouses the curiosity of men. The head and shoulders of three turbaned men peep out from behind the rocks. A palanquin on the left, intrude into the border. It does not cut across the animal and does not cease part of it to disappear. The animals are depicted with charm and are similar to the animals in paintings and sculptures from the ancient times in the sub-continent. The congregate here to show their solidarity with the young man.
The lush treatment of landscape is particularly distinctive. It has a sense of magical fantasy, with rocks seeming to float upwards like clouds, imparting otherworldliness to the scene. The golden sky and abundance of greenery add to the surreal atmosphere.
This description by Kiranjyot.
Of Related Interest:
Complete Collection of Persian Paintings
Laila Persuading Majnun
A Guide to the Indian Miniature
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