Artwork

A blindfolded suitor is brought before a princess; verso: scrolling floral vines

A blindfolded suitor is brought before a princess; verso: scrolling floral vines is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Fayzullah. It dates from 1755 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2013.343
Credit line: 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

About this work

Overview

This painting depicts a scene on a carpeted terrace within a palace, where a blindfolded prince is led before a princess by an older woman from the harem. The artwork is signed and dated by its creator.

Subject & Meaning

The scene alludes to a literary theme where a princess selects her suitor, and also echoes the power dynamics at the Mughal court, where women held significant influence over the emperor.

Technique & Style

The setting, a carpeted terrace, is a characteristic feature of Mughal palace architecture, and the artist's inclusion of such details reflects the style of contemporary Mughal artists, such as Fayzullah.

History & Provenance

The painting was created shortly after Ahmad Shah Bahadur, the Mughal emperor, was blinded and deposed in 1754, an event that resonates with the blindfolded prince in the scene.