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Rooster

Unknown

1620

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Mughal Painting Baroque Animal Mughal

Dominant colour

Rooster is a 1620 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, depicting Mughal, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1620 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

A single rooster stands on a bare patch of dirt, feathers ruffled, eyes sharp. Its spurs look ready to fight. This bird might have been a prized fighter in the Mughal court. The emperor wanted animals painted with careful detail—no drama, just life. The artist made every feather count. Look up more paintings tagged india, mughal, 17th century to see how they did it.

The story of this work

Overview

This bird, with its fierce expression, sharp beak, and spurred feet, may have been a champion in the cockfighting ring. The Mughal emperor Jahangir requested that his royal court artists paint portraits of remarkable birds and animals with as much realism as possible. He felt that such paintings enhanced feelings of amazement beyond hearing or reading an account.