Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c12.68

c12.68

The portrait group of Muhammadan Mullahs seated in a terrace with a landscape background (*Frontispiece*) is by a painter of Shah Jahan's reign (1628–58). The old man in white, with his knees tied up according to Indian ideas of comfort, and attended by a servant, is receiving two visitors, one of whom, dressed in pink, with a brown cloak, is addressing him with great earnestness, while his companion, in grey, with a pale green shawl, listens attentively. Each head is a study, drawn with the keenest appreciation of character, and the sentiment of the whole scene—the courtly, oriental etiquette, and the earnest conversation—is expressed with masterly skill.