Artwork
A Mounted Prince Hunting Lion in a Rocky Landscape
A Mounted Prince Hunting Lion in a Rocky Landscape is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Khem Karan. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1600 by the artist Khem Karan, this oil painting portrays a dramatic hunting episode set within a rugged, rocky terrain. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among other examples of early modern South Asian painting.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a princely rider, attired in traditional garb with a turban and sword, engaged in the perilous act of confronting a lion. The animal is rendered mid‑roar, its mouth open and claws extended, suggesting both the danger of the hunt and the valor attributed to the noble hunter.
Technique & Style
Khem Karan employs a vivid palette and meticulous brushwork to convey texture and movement. The prince’s fabrics and the lion’s fur are detailed with careful attention to light and shadow, while the surrounding rocks and trees are layered to produce depth and atmospheric perspective.
History & Provenance
The painting has remained in private collections before being acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it now serves as a representative example of early 17th‑century courtly hunting scenes in the Indian subcontinent.
Artist & collection
Artist
Khem Karan painted lively battle scenes and royal hunts for the Mughal court around 1600.
