India, Mughal court, reign of Shah Jahan (1628-1658), Mughal Dynasty (1526-1756) / c. 1630
Prince and ascetics, from the Late Shah Jahan Album
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Prince and ascetics, from the Late Shah Jahan Album as painting (India, Mughal court, reign of Shah Jahan (1628-1658), Mughal Dynasty (1526-1756) · c. 1630).
The holy man sits under a tree, an ancient Indian place of honor.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper and credits Govardhan (Indian, active c.1596–1645).
The museum's collection notes: Most paintings in the Late Shah Jahan Album were commissioned specifically for the album, but some older finished works were chosen to be incorporated; they were removed from their original housings and inserted into the new borders. This painting of a Mughal prince visiting a Sufi holy man in his cave dwelling is one example, chosen probably because it underscores the importance of the religious dimension of Mughal life. The conch on the ground before the ascetic is blown at the beginning of prayer, which in the Sufi tradition is often sung to the accompaniment of music. The pair of ducks in the foreground imply the harmonious union of the s
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The Cleveland Museum of ArtPrince and ascetics, from the Late Shah Jahan AlbumOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.