ticketsMember | Make a donation

Chand Bibi Hawking with Attendants in a Landscape

ca. 1700
Not on view
This painting is an accomplished example of a theme that attained popularity in Deccani painting. Chand Bibi was a legendary queen of Ahmadnagar in the Deccan, who valiantly defended her fortress against the Mughal army in the sixteenth century. Her image became a popular subject in Deccani painting, and she is frequently depicted hawking, as in this work. Here she rides a white horse, whose lower half has been colored red with henna to symbolize its wading through blood (or bravery in battle). Three female attendants accompany her on foot; one holds up a ceremonial sunshade behind the queen while another leads the way ahead of the horse. The figures are skillfully executed and the receding background is filled with charming details of animals, birds, hunters, and scenes of Indian village life.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Chand Bibi Hawking with Attendants in a Landscape
  • Date: ca. 1700
  • Geography: Attributed to India, Deccan
  • Medium: Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on card-weight paper
  • Dimensions: H. 10 in. (25.4 cm)
    W. 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art, 1999
  • Object Number: 1999.403
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Base for a Water Pipe (Huqqa) with Irises, Zinc alloy; cast, engraved, inlaid with brass (bidri ware)
Base for a Water Pipe (Huqqa) with Irises
late 17th century
Dagger with Zoomorphic Hilt, Hilt: copper; cast, chased, gilded, and inlaid with rubies.<br/>Blade: steel; forged
Dagger with Zoomorphic Hilt
second half 16th century
The House of Bijapur, Kamal Muhammad, Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
The House of Bijapur
Kamal Muhammad
Chand Muhammad
ca. 1680
"Fairies Descend to the Chamber of Prince Manohar", Folio from a Gulshan-i 'Ishq (Rose Garden of Love), Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
"Fairies Descend to the Chamber of Prince Manohar", Folio from a Gulshan-i 'Ishq (Rose Garden of Love)
ca. 1700
Futuh al-Haramayn (Description of the Holy Cities), Muhi al-Din Lari Iranian or Indian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Futuh al-Haramayn (Description of the Holy Cities)
Muhi al-Din Lari
dated 1089 AH/1678 CE

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.