"Prince Dressed in Green" Mughal Painting

Executed with delicate brushwork and brilliant color derived from minerals, vegetables, and precious stones, this portrait of a prince is an exceptional example of Indian miniature painting. Created in 1850 at the end of the Mughal empire, this painting draws on the long tradition of these minutely detailed artworks patronized by the royalty. Representing a unique mix of Persian, Indian, and Islamic styles, miniatures extolled the pleasures of courtly life with an exceptional degree of realism, seen in this prince’s detailed features and intricately rendered garments, jewels and accessories. Equal attention is paid to the delicately painted flowering plants that surround the portrait. Whether examined with the naked eye or perused with a magnifying glass, there’s always something new to see in this carefully worked painting.