c. 1680

A Nobleman Returns to the Hunt

In Deccani painting, traditional subjects are often subverted in unusual ways. Here the painter has reenvisioned the standard equestrian portrait. A Persian nobleman with beautifully patterned accessories is shown mounting, rather than riding, his horse. His groom wears a Persian fur-lined cap and boots with huge tassels. The artist appears to be mocking the Persians and their excessive finery. The kennel boy, who holds the pair of raging hounds, wears the more subdued turban and robe of the Deccan. Behind them, the red-streaked sky suggests that it is late afternoon. The nobleman has paused to retrieve a quarry killed by his falcon; soon the hunt will resume.