A Battle Scene

$85
Item Code: MD41
Specifications:
Miniature Painting On old Urdu Paper
Dimensions 9.0" x 12.0"
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
Fair trade
Fair trade
The painting portrays a battle scene with reflections of Shah-nama illustrations, the known Persian classic, in an almost conventional form. Visibly there are only five soldiers on one side and eight including their commander on the other. Of these two soldiers are seen fighting on the other bank of the lake and another one is seen at a distance rushing to join the battle. Six on one side and four on other engaged in man to man battle occupy the main battle site. All the soldiers are armed either with swords or spears. The commander alone has a gun and is seen firing it. All soldiers, save the commander, are riding on horses. The commander is on an elephant. The horses have unusually looking, enforced coverings, which reach their legs and protect them fully but despite they bear a timid look on their faces. The elephant too has been provided with a similar kind of cover. It has over it a hawda with a cupola surmounting it.

The forces on both sides have similar costumes and head-covers. They all are in similar long boots and steel covers painted with gold on their knee-joints. Each one has just one weapon whether a sword or spear and none has a shield. Strangely all soldiers on the right side of the painting are holding their weapons in right hands whereas those on the left hold them in their left hands. With their other hands they are holding the reins of their horses. With alike raised legs the artist has portrayed the strides of all horses. Almost all human figures have been rendered in an alike posture. The introduction of fire-gun places the theme of the painting around the early Mughal period.

The artist shows his greater preference for landscape which, though widely notional, has been vividly drawn. It consists of entire nature, the plain green earth, hills, sky, lake, trees, shrubs etc. He has repeated as motifs on the margin the close-ups of guns, shield like looking part of horse-cover, soldier's figure, elephant feet, a pair of swords and apiece of calligraphy, all except the heavy gun copied from the main painting.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.

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