Zebra

The zebra in this painting was presented to the Mughal emperor Jahangir (who reigned from 1605 to 1627) by Mir Ja'far who had acquired it from Turks travelling to the Mughal empire from Ethiopia. Jahangir wrote on the painting (in Persian, the court language) that it was: "A mule which the Turks in the company of Mir Ja'far had brought from Ethiopia. Its likeness was drawn by Nadir'ul-'asri [Wonder of the Age] Master Mansur. Year 1030 [ie 1620-21], [regnal] year 16". Jahangir's memoirs, the Jahangirnama (Book of Jahangir), make it clear that the animal was presented to him during the extensive Nowruz, or New Year, festivities in March 1621. When Jahangir had carefully examined it, and ensured that it was not, as some thought, a horse on which someone had painted stripes, he decided to send it to Shah Abbas of Iran, with whom he often exchanged rare or exotic presents. He does not mention ordering the animal to be depicted in a painting, and the inscription is the only evidence for Mansur's encounter with this exotic beast. The painting was almost certainly intended to be an illustration for his memoirs. No illustrated volume has survived, and it is likely that none was ever completed.

Mansur, as his title indicates, was one of the leading artists of Jahangir's reign, but was already painting highly naturalistic studies of animals while in service to the emperor's father Akbar. 

Have a great Monday!

P.S. Here you can get to know more about the artistic patronage of Akbar the Great!