Portraits of Hindu Princes and Chiefs
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Watercolor |
| Current Location: | British Museum |
Muhammad Nadir Samarquandi's work, titled "Portraits of Hindu Princes and Chiefs" is an intricately designed album leaf from the Mughal Period (1605- 1627). The work has been divided into four panels with thick borders beyond which four divisions have been created to situate the portraits of Sultan Mohammad Mirza, a seated poet, a qushbegi and a hawk. The borders divide the paintings into an interior and an exterior. The brightly coloured figures in the painting that create a distinct contrast with the relatively muted exterior bring the figures to life. The prince who had been blinded in his youth is staring dreamily into the distance, the poet looks thoughtfully at the ground beside him, the qushbegi holds a stronger expression as he looks at the hawk. These three figures can be interpreted as a partial depiction of the Prince's court.