Picture Details
A man climbs a plane tree with many squirrels at the top
Partner:
British LibraryImage reference:
BL.J1.30Origin:
North, IndiaArtist / Date:
Abu'l Hasan, c.1610Size:
362 x 225 mmDescription:
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The Mughal emperor Jahangir (reigned 1605-1627) was a great patron of painting under whose aegis painters achieved great refinement and rendered exquisite detail. This is manifest in this famous painting by Jahangir's greatest artist which attains a beautiful, natural realism where even the fur of the squirrels is distinct. The magnificent plane tree is one of the most romantic trees of India, closely identified with the Mughals as their 'royal tree', famous as the chinar tree of the Kashmir valley where it is particularly prevalent. The tall and broad chinar, called 'boune' locally, is an iconic symbol of Kashmir, its leaf a frequent motif in Kashmiri arts and crafts, decorating homes through embroidery, carvings and mouldings. Its five-lobed leaves add beauty to the valley with their changing colour from deep green to autumnal crimson and finally to brown as they dry and fall. The dry leaves are gathered and turned into charcoal for use in the tiny 'kangris' or heaters the Kashmiris place under their tunics. The Mughals planted many gardens of the huge, beautiful and shade-giving tree.
