The king of Bahilistan offers his daughter to the King of Kings, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Seventh Night Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)

The king of Bahilistan offers his daughter to the King of Kings, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Seventh Night

c. 1560

Mughal India, court of Akbar

(reigned 1556–1605)

Overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.); Painting only: 10.6 x 10 cm (4 3/16 x 3 15/16 in.)

Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.46.b

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Did You Know?

The domed pavilions are typical features of Mughal architecture, with the pink sandstone eves.

Description

The local king was so moved by the gesture of the King of King’s in support of the dervish and by his cleverness at bringing his own head, still attached, that he offered his daughter in marriage to him. The princess, wearing Indian dress, is shown honoring his feet. The male figures wear the Central Asian dress of the Mughals, with a long belted tunic and pants. The King of Kings then allowed her to marry the dervish. A fancy door with geometric patterns is in the background, but it extends all the way down to the front of the floor, which has been tilted up, so that the tile pattern can be seen head-on. These fanciful manipulations of space are a hallmark of local Indian artistic practice.