Thanks Amber, that information is useful to know. Warm regards,
Ashwin Baindur ________________________________ From: Amber Habib <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, 4 January, 2011 23:42:12 Subject: Re: [ButterflyIndia] The Study of Butterflies - by Peter Smetacek (resources for newbies) Sure! The book is "Flora and Fauna in Mughal Art" ed. by Som Prakash Verma, Marg Publications, 1999. The painting by Mansur is on page 111, titled "Tulip and butterfly", from the Habibganj collection, Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University. No. 60-1-b(3). The painting by Nadir of Samarqand is on page 113, titled "Yellow narcissus and butterfly" and described as being in a private collection in Mumbai. The photo in the book is by Lance Dane. Prof S P Verma is an art historian who used to teach at Aligarh, and still resides and works there. cheers Amber Habib Delhi ________________________________ From: Ashwin Baindur <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, January 4, 2011 1:00:05 AM Subject: Re: [ButterflyIndia] The Study of Butterflies - by Peter Smetacek (resources for newbies) Thanks, Amber. That is something really new. Can you give me citations for these for sources of the two Mughal butterflies, including page number? These drawings being old are sure to be in public domain. For more about butterflies in culture, albeit from another continent, please see : http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/meso-american-butterfly-patterns/ Warm regards, Ashwin Baindur ________________________________ From: Amber Habib <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, 3 January, 2011 22:09:35 Subject: Re: [ButterflyIndia] The Study of Butterflies - by Peter Smetacek (resources for newbies) Hi, Thanks for the link! I was particularly intrigued by a comment on the paucity of butterflies in Mughal art. There are certainly many paintings on mammals, birds and flowers - the ones by the artist Mansur (Jahangir's court) are generally the most appreciated for the accuracy of depiction of various species that caught Jahangir's eye or were presented to him. So I went through a couple of volumes depicting Mughal art and while butterflies were indeed scarce they were not completely absent. I am attaching rather crude photos of details of the two that I found. Both are from about 1620 (Jahangir's reign was 1605-27). I can't identify the one by Mansur though it has a rather danaid-ish look. But the one by "Muhammad Nadir of Samarqand" is a really wonderfully painted Plain Tiger that could grace any modern field guide. Amber Habib Delhi ________________________________ From: Ashwin Baindur <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, January 3, 2011 12:59:57 PM Subject: [ButterflyIndia] The Study of Butterflies - by Peter Smetacek (resources for newbies) Hi, Peter Smetacek wrote a series of articles on butterflies for the common man. They are great reading especially for newbies and of general interest to all. Best of all, they are open access. You can access the download links and a small writeup here : http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/the-study-of-butterflies/ Warm regards, Ashwin Baindur -- Enjoy
