Sultans of Deccan India

I saw a wonderful exhibit at the Metropolitan entitled "The Sultans of Deccan India".   It was about the art created in the Muslim ruled Deccan region of India between 1500 and 1700.   It was a prosperous region with a highly developed artistic culture.   The main area of interest for me was the miniature paintings, whose style derived from the Persian artists.  In particular I loved the marbling effects used in some of the paintings, and the very stylized renditions of hunting scenes and other outdoor activities.   The marbled sky in this one was amazing:

Other examples of marbling that intrigued me:

Another exuberantly decorated painting:

It was also interesting to reflect on the art of an entirely different Muslim culture at the other end of the Muslim world from the art we saw in Andalusia.   Very different indeed!  

One other intriguing object was a single cotton scroll, about 9 feet long, which contained the entire text of the Koran, written in the tiniest script imaginable.

The whole thing:

detail:

Even more detail:

After viewing the show, I sat down and took a break with a cup of coffee and browsed through the catalogue.   As always, the printed reproductions, no matter how good they look one the page, cannot compare with the vividness of the originals.

And then I went to indulge my self in one of the great pleasures of being at the Met, which is to go look at European art after saturating yourself in art from a completely different culture. Things you take for granted are somehow questioned, and everything looks and feels differently.