This painting depicts a Mughal prince, perhaps Salim (the future Emperor Jahangir, r. 1605-1627) or Daniyal (1572-1605). He wears a spectacular coat of a type made from either imported Persian figural silk or Persian-style figural silk made in Cambay (modern Khambat) in Gujarat, where the art of fine chain stich embroidery excelled. Such elaborately decorated coats were worn while hunting and/or riding, and were also presented as Robes of Honor (khil’at) to meritorious nobles and officials by Mughal and pre-Mughal Muslim monarchs during public ceremonies at court. A closely comparable satin with silk embroidery hunting coat attributed to Gujarat, circa 1620-1630 is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (IS.18-1947). The LACMA coat differs from the V&A coat in that it is cut longer, its composition is less dense, the relative size of the combatant animals is larger, and it features a Persian Bird of Paradise (simurgh) in place of peacocks.
Ready to take flight for the hunt, usually small ground game, the bird of prey perched on the royal falconer’s protective gauntlet is a falcon (identifiable by its rounded head and pointed wings). Falconry is traditionally a pastime of royalty believed to have originated in the Middle East or Central Asia. Numerous Sultanate and Mughal portraits of royal falconers document the sport’s high status in South Asia.
