The Fair Shahzadi

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Water colour paintings on marble are a rare work of art. Each of the ones in our collection has been handpicked for the precision and finish, not to mention the classic appeal of the subject portrayed therein. The one you see on this page is the bust of a Mughal princess. That she is Mughal could be made out from the style of her shringar and the hint of palace architecture in the background. Also, transparent dupattas were a thing in the visual arts popular with the Mughals.

The fair shahzadi (Urdu for ‘princess’) holds a tiny red flower to her charming face. She stares out at a distance, probably at her ladies-in-waiting, too shy to face the painter. Her delicate-featured beauty is of a gentle, comforting variety, nothing too intimidating. The feminine colours of her ensemble - pink and orange - go well with her complexion, and so does the shringar of statement gold and rubies that she has chosen for the occasion. On the palace walls behind her is an open window. Beyond the same is a bed of pale flowers, followed by rolling greenery as far as the eyes could see. Such was the glamour of the Mughal court-gardens, the likes of which are rare to come by any longer. The ringlet of light floral tendrils that frame the composition complement the stance of the black-hair princess.