MUGHAL MINIATURE PAINTING 6 X 3 1/2 INCH CIRC. 20^TH CENTURY

A fine example of a Mughal miniature painting, traditionally used to illustrate manuscripts or kept in albums known as muraqqas. The painting portrays an intimate love scene set on a luxurious palace terrace with at sunset. A young emperor, often identified as Akbar or Jahangir, is shown in a romantic embrace with his consort, likely Empress Jodhabai or Nur Jahan. The emperor, adorned in a rich red jama and a feathered turban, reclines against patterned bolsters while tending to his consort, who is elegantly dressed in traditional jewellery and a green ghagra. A female attendant or concubine sits nearby, a figure often included in these scenes to symbolise the opulence and service of the Mughal harem. 

In the background, a serene terraced garden overlooks a lotus pond while the sun sets behind distant hills, creating the tranquil, romantic atmosphere common in "Love Scene" miniatures. Gold platters of fruit and bowls in the foreground represent the prosperity and sensory delights of court life. This piece follows the traditional Mughal style, characterised by detailed realism and vibrant natural pigments. It is typically created using gouache and watercolour on vintage or Wasli paper, with intricate highlights in gold ink. Artisans often used fine squirrel-hair brushes to achieve the "million dots" of colour seen in the delicate patterns of the textiles and architectural details. 

Verso, manuscript leaf is written in Persian, specifically in the elegant Nastaʿlīq script commonly used for literary and poetic works.

Good overall condition, surface marks and binding holes.

Please see photographs.

Size – 6 inch (Sheet Height)

Size – 4 inch (Sheet Width)

Size – 6 inch (Image Height)

Size – 3 ½ inch (Image Width)

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