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A pair of Brahminy ducks
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The Brahminy duck, also known as the ruddy shelduck, can be found throughout Southern Europe, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. This painting accurately depicts the orange coloring of Brahminy ducks and the patches of white on their wings. They are also recognizable by their long legs and short bills. The level of detail in realistic paintings of animals like this one suggests that Mughal artists studied live subjects, such as the waterfowl that lived in Mughal palace gardens.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineA pair of Brahminy ducks, c. 1595; borders added probably 1800s. India, Mughal, 16th century. Gum tempera on paper, mounted with later pink and blue borders; page: 28.3 x 19.8 cm (11 1/8 x 7 13/16 in.); painting: 8.6 x 4.5 cm (3 3/8 x 1 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, 2013.299
