The Rose

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

This portrayal of a rose, bowed like the head of a coy maiden blushing on a proposal of love made to her for the first time, reminds of the nature art of Mansur, the great artist of Jahangir's court. Mughals' fascination for nature is first discernible in Babur's diary known as Babur-nama. Coming from the ice-covered land of Mongolia, Babur was charmed to see on Indian soil variedly coloured and attractively shaped birds, flowers and other nature. He recorded his delight of seeing them and their broad features, obviously for his posterity contemplating that he had to go back to his own land Furgana in Mongolia. Later when Akbar got Babur-nama illustrated at his court, this nature widely figured in these illustrations. Taking inspiration from Babur-nama illustrations it was, however, Mansur who first painted nature, birds, plants, animals, flowers etc. as independent themes, and, as was required, his depiction of nature was realistic.

This magnificently drawn rose with buds in various stages of maturity and a few leaves, one of them withering, is as powerful as the one by Mansur. Its petals entwined with each other in unique composition and with great unity lead the imagination to a real rose born and tucked on the thorny stem of a rose plant. For balance and proportion and its totality the artist has drawn the flower with a few buds, leaves and stem. The rose is considered as the king of flowers. The artist, conscious of it, hence enthroned it regally and elegantly on a high seat consisting of its own stem instead of painting it on a plain background. The buds crest-like add to its regality and the leaves below unfurl like appropriate carpet.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.