f.25
recto:

Portrait of Sultan Parviz, late 17th century.

This portrait derives from the same source as a painting in the British Library's Dara-Shukoh Album of a youth holding a bottle and a cup (f. 38) c.1635, although here the figure is labelled as Prince Parviz (1589-1626), son of Jahangir. He wears a muslin jama over purple pyjama and an orange flumed turban. In his right hand he holds an imported venetian glass with a stem and foot and applied blue glass decoration, and in his right a glass bottle with applied pale blue glass decoration on the neck. A knife scabbard and thumb rings hanging from his gold brocade patka.


verso:

Pelican, early 18th century.

The pelican is a symbol of charity in many cultures. Here, a large pelican opens its beak wide so allow other birds to drink water from it. The large brown bird stands on a grassy bank filling almost the entire picture plane. Smaller birds drink from its beak, peck at its tongue and other fly around amid swirling streaks on sunset clouds against a golden, blue and orange sky.


For further information on this album see RCIN 1005069.