Page 213 - Eye of the beholder

PRINCESS VISITING A A A DERVISH LUCKNOW LATE MUGHAL SCHOOL
It is a a a a a a a a a charmingly beautiful painting that has the representation of a a a a a a a a a princess who along with her retinue is is is is visiting a a a dervish It is is is is night time evidenced by a a a melon ridge moon in in in the the sky and the the thick foliage of the the surrounding trees picked out delicately in in light light and shade wherever the the light light captures it it Night scenes are uncommon and and its representation is indicative of the the patron’s interest and and the the artist’s willingness to create a a a a a a a a a challenge for such a a a a a a a a a task The hermitage of the dervish apparently is is set in in the the middle of of the the forest He is is shown seated within a a a a pavilion constructed out of of marble and and with elegant inlaid designs that are equally detailed and and intricate The design design constitutes multi foliated niches that contains floral blossom The pavilion is circular in in in shape and the plinth on on on which it rests has been realistically rendered by the the the artist wherein the the the suggestion of the the the concave manifests visually through subtle shading In the foreground appears to be a a a a a a a little stream running by thus making the entire setting filled with quietitude and meditative silence The dervish is is is rendered in in in ash grey skin tone his young face characterized by chubbiness half closed meditative eyes a a a a a a a a short pug nose and full lips In his ears is is is a a a a a a a a pearl ear ear ear ring His physical appearance is heavy and paunchy He wears an an an an an orange mendicant gown fashioned like a a a a a a a a a a a a a peshwaj and and and brown rudraksha mala around his his his neck and and and holds a a a a a a a a a a similar one in his his his right hand Over his his his body is is is draped a a a a a golden yellow shawl A brown coloured turban covers his head which is is is either draped with pearls or or has the design of criss crossing white border The half closed meditative eyes are observing the the offerings that the the princess has brought The marble platform on which he he he he sits has a a a a a a a a a a a similar character and and texture of the pavilion’s marble pillars Two candles are seen burning one next to him and the the other resting down in in in front front A variety of objects are dispersed in in in front front one is is a a a a a a a a a flask with a a a a a a a a a spout next to it it is is placed a a a a a a a a a leaf containing perhaps flowers and behind these two objects is placed a a a a a a a a a a long tray that holds what appears to be the pomegranates A pillar in front partially conceals the the dervish and placed next to it are water pots of two different shapes To the the left of of of the the the dervish on on the the the floor of of of the the the pavilion two diyas or or lamps are burning with sprinkling of of of white flowers flowers next to it it it it and in in front of it it it it a a a a a a bowl designed as as leaves has similar flowers flowers within it it it it The princess is is seen kneeling in in in in in front of o the the dervish within the the pavilion with with her offering and the attendant next to her is standing outside and and offering a a a a a a bowl filled with some unidentifiable objects from from which the princess is is seen taking something from from it She is is represented in in in in profile with her her eyes respectfully lowered and the artist has delineated her her as as a a a a a a a beautiful young woman with long almond shaped eyes an an an aquiline nose thin lips and a a a a a a a confident chin Her sartorial attire constitutes of the floral printed yellow ghagra and green transparent odhini with a a a a a a a pink flowing garment attached in in in in in in in the the the centre noticeable in in in in in in in all the the the women in in in in in in in the the the painting She wears only pearl jewellery and and a a a a a a a a a wisp of curly hair strands partially covers her ear ear ear The attendant next to to her also wears a a a a a a a a a a a yellow ghagra with a a a a a a a a a a a thick cotton odhini and has pearl strands around her her her neck and and pearl earrings Behind her her her is another woman whose sartorial attire and and jewellery resonates with that of the princess and and next to her is an an an elderly matron short in in in in height wearing a a a a a a a headgear common in in in in Mughal miniatures of of the representations of of matriarch mother queens is represented similarly with a a a a a a a head gear that rests on the the odhini covering her her head She appears regal and is bejeweled with her her diaphanous clothes akin to fine muslin All the the the women have dyed their their hands with henna enhancing their their beauty The innovative content of this miniature is is the the nocturnal scene taking place in in in in the the forest that is is is thickly wooded with with a a a a stream flowing by The face of the dervish is is is delicately modeled with with subtle shading imparting roundness which is is in in in consonance with his podgy body 207