Created by Dilawar Pandit approximately around 1620 century AD , ' Rooster ' was made specially on the request of Emperor Jahangir . Requesting his court artists to depict birds in special portraits , using defined borders and refined usage of colours . The background of the painting is typical of the Mughal gharana of painting . The dark green hue , tinged with pinches of gold here and there , clearly indicates that it is a part of the Mughal court from aroundthe seventeenth century . The two contrasting shades of green , the bottle green and light green as the central background for the portrait of the rooster , is very Mughal style of painting .
The decorative golden border hemmed in by the monochromatic bottle green background is quite decorative . The fierce expression of the rooster reflects upon a cruel history of cockfighting . The fierce bird might have emerged victorious in a cockfighting ring , hence the aware eyes , sharp beak and the spurred feet . The history of cockfighting dates back to a long long time . This used to serve as a form of entertainment for the Mughal Emperors , like Gladiator Games was for the Roman Emperors . The juxtapostion of two varying shades of green against the white body of the rooster makes it a striking , phenomenal portrait .
This painting, made around the 17th century in the Mughal court, shows a rooster in a calm but strong pose. It stands against a dark and light green background with small touches of gold, which is typical of Mughal style. The white body of the rooster stands out clearly, while its sharp beak, bright eyes, and strong feet make it look alert and powerful. The golden border around the painting adds a decorative feel. Overall, the artwork is simple yet striking, showing the beauty of nature and also giving a glimpse of how animals were valued in royal settings during that time.
