Artwork

The Greedy Dog, from a lost manuscript based on the Anwar-i Suhayli or the Iyar-i Danish

The Greedy Dog, from a lost manuscript based on the Anwar-i Suhayli or the Iyar-i Danish is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Farrukh Chela. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1594 by the Mughal painter Farrukh Chela, this small canvas illustrates a narrative episode drawn from a now‑lost manuscript that adapted the Persian tales of Anwar‑i Suhayli or Iyar‑i Danish. The work belongs to the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a dog clutching a bone while gazing at its own reflection in a pool of water. The animal’s self‑absorbed focus suggests a moral about greed or vanity, a common theme in the source stories, set against a backdrop of modest architecture and foliage that situates the scene in an everyday environment.

Technique & Style

Farrukh Chela employs a vivid palette, layering bright hues to model forms and convey atmospheric depth. The painting balances meticulous detail—visible in the rendered textures of fur, stone, and leaves—with a slightly stylized, almost fantastical treatment of space, characteristic of late‑sixteenth‑century Mughal miniatures.

History & Provenance

The piece originates from a manuscript that has not survived, preserving only this isolated illustration. After changing hands in private collections, it entered the Art Institute of Chicago’s holdings, where it remains accessible for study of Mughal narrative painting.