Hunting with falcons in a landscape (recto)

Mughal princes hunted on horseback with falcons. The hunting party would ride out into the wild and flush the prey from the brush. Then, its hood removed, the falcon would chase the prey and bring it down. This important work is thought to have been painted by one of the Persian artists Akbar’s father brought to India from Iran shortly after his arrival in India. The delicacy of the diminutive figures and the gently modeled rocks of the arid landscape contrast to the boldly dynamic paintings made by Indian artists.