INDIA, SUB MUGHAL, CIRCA 1620-30

The present painting represents an elegant warrior upon his armored horse amidst military conquest. His retinue surrounds him on foot, one tailing behind with a chauri, or fly whisk, another sheltering the leader with a parasol, while others lead with banners alongside an elephant processor. An active cavalry engagement ensues in the foreground and an eclectic musical ensemble of trumpeters and drummers sound off in the horizon. It has been suggested that the military general represents Iskandar, or Alexander the Great, whose military campaigns are detailed in the Iskandarnama (Book of Alexander) in the Khamsa of Nizami as well as the great Persian epic, Shahnama (Book of Kings).