Exquisite examples of Indian court painting from the Mughal period (c. 1550–1850) are on display in a new exhibition at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. The works come from a private collection assembled by British artist Howard Hodgkin; his personal taste and artistic sensitivity shaped the selection now on loan from the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford.
The display features illustrations of scenes drawn from epic poems and myth, intimate royal portraits, and a range of paintings that document court life. A notable highlight is a group of elephant studies, including a gouache with gold on paper titled Sultan Muhammad Adil Shah and Ikhlas Khan riding an elephant, dated to around 1645.
Complementary events are scheduled throughout the run of the exhibition. Highlights include a public conversation with Howard Hodgkin, free lunchtime talks with themed film screenings, and Indian art workshops for children. Additional family activities are offered on weekends during certain weeks. The exhibition is open now through Nov. 3.