Court scene of an emperor receiving a visitor
Indian
In a walled in, open-air courtyard, an emperor is seated in a covered terrace. His throne has long, slightly bent legs, two hexagonal bases, and a gold back that is decorated with colored flowers and scrolling vines. He is supported by a large, cylindrical, orange cushion. He sits with his legs folded under him, wearing a dark blue jama (robe) that is cinched at the waist by a gold decorated belt. Tucked into the belt is a dagger with a green sheath. He wears long strands of pearls, pearl earrings, and a white turban tied with a gold sash. The youthful emperor also bears a mustache. His left hand rests on his knee while his right hand is gesturing to a figure on his left side. Seated, legs folded underneath, on a small hexagonal chair. He wears pink trousers, a light pink shirt, and a translucent white jama. The figure wears a decorated gold waist sash with a katar (punch dagger) tucked into it. His left hand rests on his lap, holding one of the sash’s ends, while the right hand is up in gesture. He has a mustache, a gold turban, and two long strands of beads.
Behind the emperor is an attendant with a pink robe carrying a pink fly whisk. In front of him, just off the terrace, is an attendant in yellow carrying an object wrapped in red cloth. The rest of the scene is filled with attendants. The artist has individualized each figure evident through the various styles and colors of the garments and turbans, facial expressions, facial hair, facial features, age, and skin tone. Some carrying large, disc-shaped items that are covered in decorative cloths. In the bottom right is an attendant in yellow holding onto the saddle and reins of a horse. Mughal Style.
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; Mughal Style
Mughal period