A visit to the British Library to see their show on Animals. On display is a range of excellent artworks related to wildlife depicted through European paintings, books and prints to Indian company school works.

In my view, a single Mughal miniature painting steals the show, and the usual words of amazement and ecstatic beauty don’t do justice to experiencing this work in person. The painting is by the Jahangiri court artist Abul Hassan–a masterpiece of Mughal art painted in the golden age of Mughal painting, the period of Emperor Jahangir’s rule (1605-11627). Please observe the detail, composition, pallet, richness, and sheer fluidity with which the artist has captured this work. Undoubtedly painted in Kashmir, one of the emperor’s favorite spots where he is known to have remarked:

“Agar firdaus ba roo-e-zaminasth

Hami nastho hami nastho hami nasth”

“If there is a paradise on the face of this earth

It is here it is here it is here”

And as the emperor notes in the Tuzk-e-Jahangiri:

“On this date [in 1618] Abu’l Hasan the artist, who had been awarded the title Nadir al-Zaman [Wonder of the Age], presented a painting he had made …. Since it was worthy of praise, he was shown limitless favor. Without exaggeration, his work is perfect, and his depiction is a masterpiece of the age”