A Pair of Ducks, anonymous, c. 1650

brush, h 156mm × w 88mm More details

A pair of ducks is depicted in their natural surroundings. One of the birds is twisting its neck in a curious fashion to regard its companion in the water. The green background and narrow strip of blue sky introduce an element of depth into the scene. Meticulously executed miniature paintings of plants and animals were extremely popular at the Mughal court, especially during the reign of Emperor Jahangir, who ruled from 1605 to 1627. Jahangir had a keen interest in biology.