Pigeons around a dovecote

Public Domain

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Images(2)

Artist Ustad Mansur(Mughal, active c. 1589–1626)Mughal, active c. 1589–1626

CultureIndian

Titles

Pigeons around a dovecote

Datec. 1650–1660

MediumInk, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

DimensionsImage (.A): 7 3/8 × 4 7/16 in. (18.7 × 11.3 cm)
Sheet: 17 5/8 × 11 3/4 in. (44.8 × 29.8 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Brown Foundation Accessions Endowment

Object number2014.230.B

Not on view

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Department

Art of the Islamic Worlds

Object Type

PAINTING

DescriptionThe Mughal emperors were very interested in the study of birds and animals. Breeding fancy pigeons was considered an activity of great refinement. Pairs of birds are depicted here in various poses in the tradition of Mansur, the great Mughal painter of natural history who worked for Emperors Jahangir (r.1605–27) and Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658). There is a Persian inscription on the golden dovecote or pigeon house (kabutar khana), “amal-i Mansur naqqash,” referencing the work of the illuminator Mansur. Whether or not this is actually in the hand of Mansur, an attribution that has not been corroborated by scholars, this work remains an extraordinary example of Mughal album painting.
Provenance[Colnaghi, P&D & Co., and Lloyd Collection, London, 1979]; [Francesca Galloway, London]; purchased by MFAH, 2014.
Published References Kumar, Asok. "Wonders of Nature: Ustad Mansur at the Mughal Court," New York, 2013, p. 93. Sheila R. Canby, "Princes, Poets, and Paladins," London, 1998, p. 153. Colnaghi, P & D & Co., Paintings from Mughal India, London, 1979, no. 22. For other relevant examples see Curatorial Report, Section IV. Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto, inscribed in Persian on the dovecote: "amal-i' Mansur naqqash" ("the work of the illuminator Mansur")
Verso: page of 10 lines of nasta'liq calligraphy from a Mughal manuscript

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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