The merchant’s daughter encounters a wolf and bandits on her way to meet the gardener in order to keep her promise, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twelfth Night India, Mughal court, 16th century

The merchant’s daughter encounters a wolf and bandits on her way to meet the gardener in order to keep her promise, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twelfth Night

c. 1560

India, Mughal court, 16th century

Overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.); Painting only: 11.2 x 10.1 cm (4 7/16 x 4 in.)

Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.99.b

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Did You Know?

The highly decorative way of painting trees did not continue into later Mughal painting traditions.

Description

Among the illustrations in the Tales of a Parrot, this painting is one of the most representative of local Indian styles, with very few Persian features. Trees stand out as bold shapes, and figures are arranged in a single register and have angular and expressive gestures. The female figures are closely related to pre-Mughal types, shown always in profile and wearing garments that stand stiffly and sharply out before them.