Flower Studies

Unknown

ca. 1650 · Ink on paper · Islamic Art

This practice-sheet of sketches by an unknown artist reveals the care and meticulous study that went into the creation of Mughal botanical studies in the seventeenth century. Created by an artist under the reign of Shah Jahan (r. 1628–58), this page of drawings in ink depicts nineteen different flowers, drawn from nature. Some of the skillfully rendered flowers may be specifically identified including lily, narcissus, iris, tulip, Persian violet, carnation, poppy, anemone, Trillium, and campion.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1650

Medium

Ink on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Howard Hodgkin Collection, Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Acquisitions and 2020 Benefit Funds; Howard S. and Nancy Marks Gift; Louis V. Bell, Harris Brisbane Dick, Fletcher, and Rogers Funds and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest; The Mossavar-Rahmani Fund for Iranian Art and funds from various donors, 2022