A holy man prostrating himself before a learned prince

c. 1585; border added probably 1700s

attributed to Manohar

(Indian, active late 1500s)

Culture

Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)

Medium

ink on paper, laid down with borders of gold-decorated blue paper

Measurements

Page: 31.5 x 19.7 cm (12 3/8 x 7 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection 2013.297

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Location

Not on view

Description

Manohar riffs on the work of his father, Basavana, by showing a holy man bowing at the feet of a prince, instead of another holy man. Those who could recognize the relationship between this work and that of his father (CMA 2013.296) would impress gatherings of courtly connoisseurs, who prided themselves on being able to identify the hand of individual artists just by looking at the paintings. Recitation of poetry would accompany the viewing of paintings and drawings. Virtuoso artists reflected glory on their patrons. As an Islamic ruler, Akbar and his court participated in these activities—a new purpose for art that Indian artists had to learn.