A Prince Recites Poetry to Attendants in a Garden

The scene depicted in A Prince Recites Poetry to Attendants in a Garden shows a sophisticated example of courtly relaxation within a formal, enclosed garden. A young prince is seen lying down under a silk awning which is richly embroidered and is reciting poetry to two companions. The group includes all the typical features of a majlis, that is, a social gathering: poetry, wine, music and conversation. The private setting of the garden gives rise to the kind of relaxed and culturally refined entertainment linked with the Mughal elite. The garden is carefully arranged, showing the octagonal pool from a point above ground level. The unusual angle used shows off the artist's skilled handling of space. One of the prince's attendants raises a finger to his mouth, a gesture which is linked to emotional reactions in earlier Iranian painting traditions. The young figures have narrow eyes and idealised features that match the Persian literary idea of the beautiful, that of the 'moon-faced' youth. Yet their clothing situates them in the present-day Akbari Mughal cultural setting. The painting is of great importance when studying La'l, who was a senior master in Emperor Akbar's painting studio. The Royal Collection states that he is the painter of this picture and the piece is signed "ustad la'l", which translates as "Master La'l". The style displayed shows the ongoing influence of Iranian pictorial traditions together with features typical of Mughal court painting.