Album folio of a pink lotus, Mughal dynasty, 18th century
Unknown artist, Indiaexpand_more
Opaque watercolor and gold on paperexpand_more
Anonymous gift of fundsexpand_more 84.44b
Not on Viewexpand_more
There are many ways to contextualize this fluidly painted flower. It is said that flowers became an important painting genre in the Mughal studios after the Emperor Jehangir (reign 1605–27) encountered the springtime flora of the Kashmir Valley in northwestern India. This also coincided with the arrival of European floral prints brought by Jesuit missionaries. Already, floral sprays were a primary element in Mughal (reign 1526–1857) decorative arts, inspired by the pervasive floral environments of the paradisal gardens described in Islamic texts. Here, the painter imaginatively interprets a pink lotus, which is associated with purity in many South Asian belief systems.
Details
- Title
- Album folio of a pink lotus
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 84.44b
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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