Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulah of Awadh in a Garden

One can see Asaf-ud-Daula sitting on a pavilion with a shamiana made of gold, covering him. He is sitting with a backrest and two pillows. In terms of his trousseau, he is depicted wearing an angarkha (a traditional upper garment worn by men in the Indian subcontinent). Next to him is his sword which is green in color and on it one can notice a gold sheath and the gold handle as well. Behind him stand his attendants holding morechhal (peacock feathers) to fan him. Asaf-ud-Daula is being approached by two messengers. One can see that he is sitting in a marble pavilion which has a golden boundary. In the background a pond can be seen with a fountain in it. Under the patronage of the Nawabs of Awadh, a delicate style of painting flourished in which the artist expressed their delight in depicting lovely gardens and palaces.

Gold and beige are the dominant colors of the painting. This beautiful painting has a gold border which has flowers and leaves. The colours have been used to signify the nobility of the subject in focus. Paintings were not candid captures of everyday life, instead they can be understood as manufactured settings curated to perform certain predetermined functions such as the display of power, prestige, luxury and comfort.