Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c12.25

c12.25

The exquisite coloured drawing of Jahangir's time, inscribed, "A portrait of Saʻdi of Shiraz (May God sanctify his tomb!)," belongs to this class. Saʻdi visited India in the first half of the thirteenth century, and it is possible that his portrait may have been drawn by Indian artists of that time; or a contemporary portrait by Persian artists may have existed in Jahangir's collection. This drawing, however, is not a mere copy, but a most careful study from life, founded on a recognised traditional type known to the Mogul artists. Probably one of Jahangir's court poets served as a model.