During the reign of Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal emperors of India, there was a strong interest for Western Art. He reigned from 1556 to 1605 and extended Mughal power over most of India, and he also invited Renaissance artists from the West to India to teach them art.
There are some unique touches to the scene that are not conventionally Western. Mary is shown both reading and sewing. Usually in Western art she is doing one or the other. The book she is reading is on the stand, and the letters are pseudo-Hebrew. The Angel Gabriel, always in the room with her in Western paintings, in this one is still up in Heaven, just about to be sent down on his mission.
We love these variations of the theme, because the Church is universal and catholic, and we always enjoy seeing how other people imagine the Gospel and the variation of Catholic culture from country to country.
This one was done about 1615 by a local artist. It is signed by Mir 'Ali, who was a famous calligrapher, but his name refers to the calligraphy on the back of the painting. It was a miniature, 8 7/8 x 7¾in. It recently sold at Christies for $550,000. (source: www.christies.com)
** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is a white border of about 0.5" inch for 5x7", 1.3" for 8.5x11", or 1.6" for 11x14", and 1.75" for larger pictures. All Approx! Fine art printers do this because the images are almost never the same rectangular ratio of the standard paper sizes. It also gives the prints a finished look, and lets them look good in a frame without a matt.
– Acid-free paper – Archival pigments, rated to last for generations. – Cardboard backer – Above story of the art – Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.
Thanks for your interest!
Thanks! Sue & John
You might also enjoy original Catholic Art and Jewerly by me, Sue Kouma Johnson, here on Etsy at www.Etsy.com/shop/TreeOfHeaven Also, check out our Catholic Quote shop, where we are pairing authentic quotes from Saints with Art: www.Etsy.com/shop/CatholicQuote
“In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art.” ~ St. Pope John Paul II
