Court Lady with a Narcissus

Though a single woman holding a spray of flowers became something of a cliché during Shah Jahan's reign, this is one of the early extant examples of the genre. The drawing style, the slight awkwardness of the figure – notable in the way the left arm is positioned, the firm and distinctive line of the profile as well as the subtlety with which the attire is painted, all suggest  a comparatively early date of around 1630 for the work  The artist has planned the contrasts of textures skillfully, juxtaposing the filmy veil and skirt with the sparkling jewellery and the thick, heavy gold patka which hangs to the feet. He has also sensitively overlapped the pale bodice with the warm rose tone of the veil.