Princes hunting in a rocky landscapec. 1580–85; borders added c. 1700s · Study 1940.1197

Context from the museum

The subdued palette of this tinted drawing belies the dire events of the scene. A group of Mughal nobles out hunting with falcons has chanced upon two lions in the wilderness, and one of the men has been attacked. The bearded figure with the falcon at the upper left and the huntsman about to retrieve a duck caught by one of the trained falcons at the lower left are reminiscent of an earlier work, Hunting with Falcons in a Landscape ( CMA 2013.292 ), painted by a Persian artist. By the time this painting was made Akbar exerted more direct influence on his artists’ work, and it reveals his taste for dramatic action and climactic moments where life and death hang in the balance.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

A hunter with gunpowder pouch hurriedly loads a musket with a scouring stick.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected image measurement for Princes hunting in a rocky landscape is 15.8 cm wide and 26.4 cm high, equivalent to approximately 6.2 × 10.4 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.60:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.04 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 5.3% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 142.1 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Princes hunting in a rocky landscape in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Ink, slight color, and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 15.8 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?