 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Portraiture remained in demand among sub-Imperial patrons, but was generally more direct and less emblematic. This portrait is a depiction of the powerful Nawab of Avadh, Shuja ud-daulah (ruled 1754-1775), one hand on a dagger, the other on a sword. He is the ruler to whom the Mughal heir Shah Alam turned for refuge during the clash of the Marathas and the Afghans in Delhi. During the Nawab's twenty-year reign, he attracted painters and men of letters to his court, including western painters. Westernization of style is evident in the frontal view of his face (although the body is shown in three-quarters view), the naturalistic shading in the folds of his garment, and the very deliberate, if clumsy, recession in the geometries of the carpet. There is a loss of precision in technique and an interest in rendering visual impressions rather than complete, minute details, seen for example, in the pattern in the Nawab's slippers. << Back Explore the Paintings Next >>
|
|
|||||||||
