Sultan Ali Adil Shah II hunting a tiger

c. 1660

21.5 x 31.5 cm

Gouache with gold and probably lapis lazuli pigment on paper

Ali Adil Shah (r.1656-1672) draws his bow and looses an arrow unerringly at a tiger standing at bay. The Sultan is shown standing in the supremely confident posture of the invincible ruler who slays single-handed the mightiest of beasts, the lion or tiger. This pose is seen in India in Gupta gold coins of the fourth century, as well as in Achaemenid and Sasanian lion-slaying scenes in Iran.

To view a high-resolution version of this image and for further information please visit the Yousef Jameel Online Centre at the Ashmolean.