Artwork
A House Burgled at Night
A House Burgled at Night is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The painting portrays a nocturnal intrusion into a Mughal residence: a group of thieves scales the outer wall, entering a courtyard to pilfer furniture and jewels while a woman darts toward the doorway, her flowing skirt and abandoned shoe suggesting urgent escape.
Subject & Meaning
The central narrative captures a moment of disorder and panic, emphasizing the swift motion of the fleeing woman through the fluttering scarf she clutches. The scene may allude to the broader instability of the early 18th‑century Mughal court, a period marked by rapid imperial succession and attendant turmoil.
Technique & Style
Executed in a dark palette, the artist employs deep shadows to obscure the intruders’ faces, heightening the sense of secrecy. Fine brushwork renders the movement of fabric and the gleam of stolen objects, while the contrast between illuminated interior elements and the surrounding gloom creates dramatic tension.
History & Provenance
Unlike the majority of Mughal paintings that celebrate royal ceremonies, this work is an uncommon depiction of criminal activity. The creator remains unidentified, but the piece has survived in a private collection before entering a museum holding, where it is noted for its rarity within the Mughal visual tradition.
Context
Set against the backdrop of early 1700s Mughal India, the artwork reflects a time when political instability disrupted courtly life. By focusing on a domestic burglary rather than regal pageantry, the painting offers a glimpse into the anxieties of the period and expands the thematic range of Mughal visual culture.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
The deceitful wife assaults her erring husband, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
Umar searches for Hamza
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
The two cooks, who attempt to seduce the warrior’s loyal wife, are trapped by her in a cellar, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourth Night
The deceitful wife assaults her erring husband, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
The deceitful wife ejects the procuress after blackening her face, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
The two cooks, who attempt to seduce the warrior’s loyal wife, are trapped by her in a cellar, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourth Night