Cranes and Ducks - Aga Khan Museum
Aga Khan Development Network
 
The Aga Khan Museum: Arts of the Book: Illustrated Texts, Miniatures - Mughal, 18th century CE  Place your mouse over the image
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Classification
Arts of the Book: Illustrated Texts, Miniatures

Object name
Cranes And Ducks

Geography
India

Period
Mughal, 18th century CE

Dynasty
Mughal

Materials and technique
Opaque watercolour and silver on paper

Dimensions
Page 31.5 x 22 cm; Image 28 x 18.2 cm

Accession number
AKM00148

Description

White ducks swim in a silvery-coloured stream flanked by four sarus red-headed cranes. The sarus crane (Grus antigone), the only resident breeding crane in India and southeast Asia, is also the world’s tallest flying bird. Perhaps the graceful creatures seen here flapping their wings and stretching their spindly long legs are Indian males, who can reach over six feet tall. Accurate depiction of the natural world was a beloved theme of the Mughals. The lyrical quality of the cranes’ movements, however, may suggest Deccani influence.

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115 pieces found

FOLIO-FROM-THE-KHAWASS-ALASHJAR-DE-MATERIA-MEDICA-RASIYUN--PLANTFOLIO-FROM-THE-KHAWASS-ALASHJAR-DE-MATERIA-MEDICA-AMADUN--OR--NARDIN--PLANTFOLIO-FROM-THE-KHAWASS-ALASHJAR-DE-MATERIA-MEDICA-HASHISHA--ALHAMAMA-THE-HERB-BUGLOSS-OR-OXTONGUEFOLIO-FROM-THE-KHAWASS-ALASHJAR-DE-MATERIA-MEDICA-LABATHUN--PLANTFolio-from-the-Khawass-alAshjar-de-Materia-Medica-The-Poppy-Folio-from-a-manuscript-of-Kitab-fi-marifat-alhiyal-alhindasiyya-by-alJazari-A-bloodletting-deviceFRONTISPIECE-FROM-A-MANUSCRIPT-OF-THE-SULWAN-ALMUTA-OF-IBN-ZAFAR-THREE-YOUNG-HUNTERSFolio-From-The-Khamsa-of-Amir-Khusraw-Dihlavi-Shabi-Qadr-The-Night-Of-PowerMANUSCRIPT-OF-THE-MATHNAVI-OF-JALAL-ALDIN-RUMIYOUTH-AND-DERVISH-IN-CONVERSATIONSHEPHERDS-IN-A-LANDSCAPESAMPLE-OF-CALLIGRAPHY-SIGNED-BY-ALFAQIR-ALIMANUSCRIPT-OF-THE-KHAMSA-OF-NIZAMIMURAQQA-ALBUM-OF-PORTRAITS-AND-CALLIGRAPHIESMANUSCRIPT-OF-THE-JUDGEMENTS-OF-THE-GREEK-PHILOSOPHERS-SOCRATES-AND-ARISTOPHANESMANUSCRIPT-OF-ALKASHIFIS-ANVARI-SUHAYLI-LIGHTS-OF-CANOPUSSAMPLE-OF-CALLIGRAPHY-FROM-AN-ALBUM-MADE-FOR-SHAH-JAHANLANDSCAPE-WITH-VILLAGERS-TRAVELLERS-AND-ANIMALSPALACE-AT-DELHITalismanic-chartFolio-from-the-Shahnama-of-Shah-Tahmasp-Salm-and-Tur-receive-the-reply-of-Faridun-and-ManuchihrFolio-from-the-Shahnama-of-Shah-Tahmasp-Sindukht-brings-gifts-to-the-Court-of-SamFolio-from-the-Shahnama-of-Shah-Tahmasp-The-first-joust-of-the-champions-Fariburz-and-KalbadFATH-ALI-SHAH-SEATED-ON-A-THRONE-DECORATED-WITH-PRECIOUS-STONESMANUSCRIPT-OF-THE-GUY-U-CHAWGAN-OR-HALNAMA-BOOK-OF-ECSTASY-OF-ARIFIZoomorphic-calligraphyMASJID-ALHARAMCALLIGRAPHY-BY-ISMAIL-JALAYIRA-GATHERING-OF-DERVISHESThe-crucifixion-with-the-Virgin-and-St-JohnA-PRINCE-VISITS-A-HERMITPORTRAIT-OF-SHAH-JAHAN-AND-HIS-THREE-SONSEMPEROR-JAHANGIR-AT-THE-JHAROKA-WINDOW-OF-THE-AGRA-FORTSAMPLE-OF-CALLIGRAPHY-FROM-AN-ALBUM-MADE-FOR-SHAH-JAHANPICTORIAL-GENEALOGY-OF-THE-DESCENDANTS-OF-JAHANGIRFOLIO-FROM-THE-SHAHNAMA-OF-SHAH-TAHMASP-FIRDAWSI-AND-THE-THREE-COURT-POETS-OF-GHAZNAFOLIO-FROM-THE-SHAHNAMA-OF-SHAH-TAHMASP-GUSHTASP-SLAYS-A-DRAGON-ON-MOUNT-SAQILAA-SEASERPENT-SWALLOWS-THE-ROYAL-FLEETASCETICS-IN-A-LANDSCAPEHUMAYUN-DEFEATS-HIS-REBELLIOUS-BROTHER-KAMRAN-AT-KABULPORTRAITS-OF-JAHANGIR-AND-SHAH-JAHANPORTRAIT-OF-AN-OTTOMAN-WITH-A-BOOKGroup-of-sages-in-discussionKAUSA-RAGAPUTRA-MUSIC-FOR-AFTER-MIDNIGHTMANUSCRIPT-OF-THE-DALAIL-ALKHAYRAT-THE-WAYS-OF-EDIFICATION-OF-ALJAZULIAN-OTTOMAN-OFFICIALPORTRAIT-OF-SULTAN-SELIM-IIPORTRAIT-OF-SULTAM-SELIM-IIISAMPLE-OF-CALLIGRAPHY-BY-PRINCE-DARA-SHIKUHPilgrimage-certificateMANUSCRIPT-OF-THE-DALAIL-ALKHAYRAT-THE-WAYS-OF-EDIFICATION-OF-ALJAZULIA-prince-and-a-hermitA-young-prince-with-mysticsA-dervish-in-a-landscapeManuscript-of-the-Tadhkira-of-Shaykh-Safi-alDinSages-in-religious-discussionA-composite-elephant-and-riderShah-Abbas-II-and-the-Mughal-AmbassadorIsa-Khan-Qurchibashi-of-Shah-Abbas-IShah-Safi-alDin-at-a-picnic-with-ambassadorsDouble-album-page-Portrait-of-Fath-Ali-Shah-and-calligraphic-exercisePortrait-of-Akbar-in-old-ageThe-Delhi-Darbar-of-Akbar-Shah-IIFolio-from-the-Akhlaqi-Nasiri-of-Nasir-alDin-Tusi-School-courtyard-with-boys-reading-and-writingSAMPLE-OF-CALLIGRAPHY-BY-SHAH-MAHMUD-NISHAPURIA-drowsy-courtier-reading-by-candlelightFolio-from-the-Manafi-alHayawan-of-Ibn-Bukhtishu-The-shiqraq-or-Green-MagpieFolio-from-the-Suwar-alkawakib-althabita-The-constellations-Andromeda-and-piscesA-dragon-in-a-landscapeA-hunting-sceneYoung-hunter-with-a-falconFolio-from-the-Shahnama-of-Shah-Tahmasp-Rustam-pursues-the-Div-Akvan-disguised-as-an-onagerJahangirs-Lion-HuntLovers-in-the-storm-with-DivsPrince-Dara-Shikuh-and-his-mistress-on-a-terrace-at-nightMusician-playing-a-tarA-musical-gatheringNata-RagaThe-architect-Numan-is-thrown-from-a-fortressFolio-from-a-Shahnama-Bahram-Gur-goes-huntingFolio-from-a-Shahnama-The-arrival-of-Zahhak-and-the-end-of-Jamshids-ruleFolio-from-a-Shahnama-Bijan-takes-the-rein-to-aid-GustahamBaburs-men-pursuing-the-inhabitants-of-Bilah-across-the-River-IndusIlluminated-album-page-with-Sura-alFatihaIlluminated-album-page-with-Sura-alFatihaAn-aged-pilgrimDouble-finispiece-from-the-Diwan-of-Sultan-Ibrahim-MirzaElephants-by-the-riverCongregation-of-birdsShah-Abbas-I-of-Iran-attended-by-a-pageAkbar-and-a-DervishBearded-man-reading-outdoorsManuscript-of-the-Tashrih-MansuriThe-Constellations-Virgo-Libra-Scorpio-and-LeoManuscript-of-the-Taqwim-alsihha-of-Ibn-ButlanFolio-from-a-manuscript-of-the-Kalila-wa-Dimna-The-fable-of-the-lion-the-fox-and-the-donkeyFolio-from-the-Shahnama-of-Shah-Ismail-Isfandiyar-kills-the-simurghFolio-from-a-Shahnama-Bahram-Gur-kills-the-UnicornYoung-man-carried-off-by-a-giant-birdShirin-praying-and-Khusrau-huntingLovers-in-a-landscapeThe-Naim-alDin-ShahnamaPortrait-of-the-poet-HatifiA-youth-playing-a-stringed-instrumentFolio-from-a-Shahnama-Bahram-Gur-kills-two-lions-to-prove-his-right-to-the-throne-of-IranMansucript-of-the-Kulliyat-of-SadiThe-Ottoman-army-marching-on-the-city-of-Tunis-in-1569-CEPortrait-of-the-Nawab-Mirza-Muhammad-Baqir-and-his-young-son-Mirza-HusaynFolio-from-the-Shahnama-of-Shah-Tahmasp-The-story-of-Haftvad-and-the-wormFolio-from-the-Shahnama-of-Shah-Tahmasp-The-death-of-ZahhakFolio-from-the-Shahnama-of-Shah-Tahmasp-The-court-of-GayumarsFolio-from-the-Shahnama-of-Shah-Ismail-Rustam-slays-the-Turanian-warrior-AlkusFolio-from-a-Shahnama-Kai-Khusrau-surveys-his-forcesFolio-from-a-Shahnama-Shah-Kay-Kavus-attempts-to-fly-to-heavenFolio-from-the-Small-Shahnama-Shah-Shapur-besieges-the-fortress-of-the-Arabian-chieftain-Tair-in-Yemen