18th C. Indian Mughal Painting - Rostam & Eagle

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 the legendary hero Rostam is battling a larger than life eagle; Rostam wields sharp knives in his hands and also has a quiver of arrows on his back. He is dressed in opulent garments highlighted with gold leaf and a bejeweled turban. Eight warriors on horseback and one waving a standard before them, all dressed in similar regal attire delineated in gold leaf and brilliant color, look on from above. The composition is marked with a linear border and surrounded by a border of golden floral garlands adorning 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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#148338
Condition Report: This painting has not been examined outside the frame but appears to be in very good condition. Slight scuffs to the frame, but otherwise the frame is in very good condition as well.