Pleasures of the Hunt

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This hunt takes place in a tented enclosure, or qamargha. A prince and princess on horseback, each holding a hunting hawk, observe deer being shot by a princess in the distance. This same huntress reappears twice in the foreground, outside the red cloth enclosure: at left, shooting at a deer, and at right, making love with a courtier who demonstrates his prowess by simultaneously aiming an arrow at an approaching tiger. The horses belonging to the amorous couple wait patiently nearby; one has his face covered to prevent him being startled, a device that is likely also a witty allusion to the lovers’ brazen display. The Kangra court style is distinguished by its refined use of softly modulated pastel colors and handsome figure types.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art