The Nativity of Christ, watercolour on paper, by a Mughal artist after a European original, ca. 1605-1610.

This painting is done in a style derived from Iranian painting and known as ‘nim qalam’, where tones of brown and ochre predominate but particular areas are given stronger colours. The composition is copied from a European original, The Nativity of Christ by the Flemish painter Martin de Vos, which was engraved by the Netherlandish artist Hieronymus Wierix for Geronimo Nadal’s book Evangelicae historicae imagines, published in Antwerp in 1593. The book was widely used by the Jesuits on their missions to the East, and was known to have been taken to the Mughal court in the late 16th century.

Historical significance: This is based on a drawing by Martin de Vos, engraved by Hieronymus Wierix, that was one of the illustrations to Geronimo Nadal's Evangelicae historicae imagines, Antwerp, 1593. Nadal's book was brought to the Mughal court by the Jesuits who travelled there from Portuguese Goa.

Source : V&A, London