Local Chieftain receiving the Prince

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The painting, with reflections of a Shahnama folio, renders a Persian prince being ceremoniously received by a local chieftain and his crew at the outskirts of his principality. As define his features, the round flabby face, heavy eyes full of lethargy and heavily cast and highly raised neck, the unidentified prince is Persian by origin. The prince and his companion, his minister in all probabilities, are in costumes of typical Persian character. They are wearing the typical half sleeved richly embroidered long gowns over the tight inner garments. He is riding a majestic horse and so is his minister. The body-guards with spears in hands are leading him to his destination. The guards have vertically projecting head-dresses to mark their class distinction, a system which prevailed in medieval Persian society where all persons other than the rulers and the members of royal court had to wear as part of their uniform head-dresses, which had vertical projections, though such projections were different in kind and make in case of each class.

The chieftain come to receive him at the outskirts of his principality is alike richly dressed. He is wearing an inner suit with tight sleeves and chest-part but a loose frill and over it a long upper gown. He has in his hand a shawl, may be, for felicitating the royal guest with it. One of his courtiers is carrying a gold tray with red flowers to welcome the prince. Another courtier has a gold plate and a third one a gold pitcher, perhaps with some snacks and water to offer to the prince in pursuance to their tradition, much like the one we have in India. As indicate the costumes, the crew of the chieftain, except the one holding the water pot, consists of his high ranking officers. The terrain and the entire background is the same as has been rendered in Shahnama paintings and early Mughal miniatures, which were largely influenced by Persian art style. The painting depicts the hour of evening, obviously the time when every journey terminated.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.