A tethered fat-tailed sheep in a meadow, India, Mughal, 17th century

Acquired from Robert Ellsworth, New York, July 1993

Jahangir’s interest in flora and fauna are expressed in the numerous natural studies commissioned by the emperor. The leading Mughal court artist Mansur produced many such works, including studies of animals probably found in Jahangir’s zoological garden (see a study of a Nilgai in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, acc. no.55.121.10.13) and others from further afield (see a study of a zebra presented to the Mughal emperor by Mir Ja'far in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, inv. no.IM.23-1925). The tradition of creating animal portraits continued by later Mughal patrons, probably inspired by the master court painter. A closely comparable portrayal of a fat-tailed sheep is in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai.