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One of Seven details of pietra-dura work showing flowers an birds on the walls of the Diwan-i Am, Delhi Fort.

Unknown

1845

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Patna School of Painting Romanticism Early 19th Century Floral

Dominant colour

One of Seven details of pietra-dura work showing flowers an birds on the walls of the Diwan-i Am, Delhi Fort. is a 1845 paint by Unknown, a Patna School of Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1845 · Patna School of Painting
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a single heart-shaped vase holding three kinds of flowers: white lilies, a pale star-shaped bloom, and a dark, wilted bud. The leaves are green with a few purple-tinged ones, and the vase sits on a simple wooden stand. The dark background makes the colors pop, and the edge of the frame is decorated with tiny flower shapes. The painting looks like it was made to decorate a wall, possibly in a palace. The flowers are arranged carefully, with some buds just starting to open. If you like this kind of detailed floral art, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

One of seven surviving sections of pietra-dura inlay, this work depicts floral motifs and avian figures set into the walls of the Diwan-i Am at Delhi Fort, dating to 1845. The composition integrates naturalistic flowers and birds within a geometric framework typical of the technique. Each panel forms part of a larger decorative scheme covering the hall’s interior surfaces.

Read the full account in the museum source.