Games of Scale in a Golconda Painting

Portrait of a Golden Prince, ca. 1660–70. India, Deccan, Golconda. Islamic. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. Musée Guimet, Paris (MG1983)

«Since the opening of the exhibition Sultans of Deccan India, 1500–1700: Opulence and Fantasy, on view through July 26, I have been visiting the galleries frequently to examine the fabulous works on display and to take advantage of the magnifying glasses available for use by visitors to really look closely at the artworks. During a recent trip, one Golconda painting in particular, Portrait of a Golden Prince, from the collection of the Musée Guimet, Paris, invited such close inspection.»

The main image is a portrait of a youth, probably a prince from the Qutb Shahi dynasty (1496–1687), seated on a horse and displayed against a green background, a well-known device in Mughal portraiture. The image is painted with careful attention to detail; for instance, the dappled grey horse is rendered with a mixture of sharp outlines and fine brushstrokes to suggest the softness of its coat and the fine dots at its hooves that may denote horseshoes.

Detail showing the sharp outlines and fine brushstrokes of the horse's coat

As I examined the painting, other details also leapt out at me—such as the hilt of dagger that seems to be made of jade, or the broad gold sash on the prince's turban with its floral motifs. The most striking example of minute details in the painting, however, is the green ground the horse stands upon. Close examination of this section of the portrait reveals a complex landscape represented in miniature.

Detail showing the complex landscape located at the bottom of the painting

The painter's meticulous attention to detail is abundant. The background of rocky outcrops depicts peacocks, a pair of ibex and a pair of blackbucks running, identifiable by the male's twisting horns. The middle ground shows a hunting scene with two figures holding falcons and a pair of running dogs. A blackbuck male and female are depicted grazing in the center of the scene as a pair of birds take flight above them. In the foreground, a lotus pond is enlivened by cranes, ducks, and fish in multiple poses.

These details together make for an altogether dynamic scene. My description couldn't do complete justice to the painter's accomplished hand and eyes, and the portrait must be examined in person to be fully appreciated.

View all blog posts related to this exhibition.