Posted on: 23 August 2013

Painting of a prince and attendant with a falcon. The prince, seated cross-legged on the left, strokes the falcon who rests on the arm of the courtier. Both men sit on a carpet. Void background. No text. Painted in opaque watercolour on paper.

Mughal Style
Mughal dynasty
1600 (circa)
India

Curator's comments:
Falcons were prized by the Mughals for their ability to prey on mammals and on other birds. Men of stature, even those who were less active, would have been expected to have the trappings of nobility, including falcons, and the specialized staff to look after them.

© Trustees of the British Museum


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