Arjumand Banu Begum
1820
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1820
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting shows a woman with a gentle face. She's dressed in ornate clothes and jewelry. The portrait is very detailed, which makes it interesting - it was made by an Indian artist for the British in India, a type of art known as a Company Painting. The artist used watercolour on ivory to create this portrait. It's a portrait of Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaz Mahal, a important woman in history. She was a favourite wife of a Mughal Emperor and her death led to the building of a famous mausoleum. You can learn more about this type of art by looking into the technique of chiaroscuro.
