Essentials

  • Also known as:
    • Dasavant
    • Dasvant
    • Dasavanta
    • دسوانث
  • Died: 1584
  • Art period: Renaissance
  • Works on this site: 4
  • Top 3 works:
    • The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Sixth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
    • The wounded monkey bites the hand of the prince, his chessmate, in the presence of guests, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifth Night
    • The parrot mother cautions her young on the danger of playing with foxes, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifth Night
  • Copyright status: Public domain

The Creative Spirit of the Mughal Era

Daswanth was a Mughal-era painter serving under the emperor Akbar. Born the son of a palanquin-bearer, he was a Hindu who demonstrated a natural talent for painting and drawing on walls. This talent led him to be taught by the Persian master painter Khwāja 'Abd al-Samad. While 'Abd al-Samad's work was traditional and conservative, Daswanth's own works were noted for being imaginative and original. He was recognized in the Ain-i-Akbari as one of the three most important artists of his period, and the Akbarnama also credited him with great artistic talent.

His artistic style was characterized by a chaotic and creative energy that distinguished him from his contemporaries. His illustrations often appeared otherworldly, sometimes described as scary, with figures that were proportionally inconsistent and weightless. He possessed a unique technique involving the free application of wet pigment and a beautiful understanding of perspective through the use of character size, architectural details, and backgrounds. His work often focused on storytelling, depicting gods, demigods, courtly figures, and warriors, frequently portraying scenes of battle and gory violence.

Masterpieces and Contributions

Daswanth contributed significantly to several major works, including the Hamzanama and the Tarikh e Khandan e Timuriyah. He is also associated with the Razmnama, a Persian translation of the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, where he drew as many as 31 full-page miniatures. His work in this collection included diverse compositions, such as:

  • Arjun hitting the target: A scene depicting a crowd of kings and the protagonist Arjuna near a cauldron of hot oil.
  • Abhimanyu's Chakravyuha: A unique double-page composition featuring thousands of figures arranged in a maze formation.

His repertoire also included illustrations for the Tūtīnāma, such as The Wounded Monkey Bites the Hand of the Prince. His style occasionally incorporated elements from other traditions, such as Chinese-style clouds or Western techniques and idioms. His life ended in 1584 after he wounded himself with a dagger.

Ερωτήσεις και Απαντήσεις

Υπάρχει 3D εικονική περιήγηση στα έργα του Daswanth;

Η 3D Μουσείο του Daswanth σας προσφέρει μια εικονική τρισδιάστατη γκαλερί, όπου μπορείτε να θαυμάσετε τα έργα του καλλιτέχνη.

Μπορώ να εξερευνήσω τα έργα του/της Daswanth ανά θέμα;

Η σελίδα Ατλάς Θεμάτων αναλύει τα έργα του Daswanth ανά θέμα.

Μπορώ να περιηγηθώ στα έργα του/της Daswanth ανάλογα με τη διάθεση;

Στη σελίδα Κόρνερ Αίσθησης του καλλιτέχνη, μπορείτε να δείτε τα έργα του Daswanth ταξινομημένα ανάλογα με την ατμόσφαιρά τους.

Υπάρχει μια χρονολογική αναδρομή για τον/την Daswanth;

Η σελίδα Χρονικό έργο του/της Daswanth αποτελεί μια χρονολογική διαδρομή με δυνατότητα ακολούθησης κατά το scroll, η οποία παρουσιάζει τα έργα του/της καλλιτέχνη σε χρονολογική σειρά, ομαδοποιημένα σε κεφάλαια ανά περίοδο της καριέρας του/της.

Test your eye

Για κάθε ερώτηση υπάρχει μόνο μία σωστή απάντηση.

Ερώτηση 1:
Under which emperor did the Mughal-era painter Daswanth serve?
Ερώτηση 2:
Who was the Persian master painter that taught Daswanth?
Ερώτηση 3:
In which document is Daswanth referenced as one of the top three most important artists of his period?
Ερώτηση 4:
The Razmnama is a Persian translation of which Hindu epic?
Ερώτηση 5:
Which work by Daswanth depicts a monkey's action and the response of a prince?