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Illustrated portrait of Defne Akın
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Defne Akın

Defne Akın writes for the Miniature Painting department at Matchless Pieces, covering the history, makers and collecting of miniature painting.

1,015Articles
defne.akin@matchlesspieces.com
The king dreams of a lady, the personification of wealth, departing from him on account of his purchasing a bowl and a staff from a yogi, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-sixth Night — Anonymous, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)

The king dreams of a lady, the personification of wealth, departing from him on account of his purchasing a bowl and a staff from a yogi, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-sixth Night

October 10, 2026Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Procession of Daoist Deities: Leaf 4 — China, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279)

Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Procession of Daoist Deities: Leaf 4

October 10, 2026The goldsmith and the carpenter inform the king of a dream in which the golden images plan to desert the city for lack of worshippers, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Third Night — Anonymous, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)

The goldsmith and the carpenter inform the king of a dream in which the golden images plan to desert the city for lack of worshippers, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Third Night

October 10, 2026The creatures of the sea are asked by the king of the Ocean to take a message to the Brahman, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eleventh Night — Anonymous, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)

The creatures of the sea are asked by the king of the Ocean to take a message to the Brahman, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eleventh Night

October 10, 2026Baby Krishna Asking for Butter from Yashoda, from a Kalighat album — Eastern India, Kolkata, Kalighat

Baby Krishna Asking for Butter from Yashoda, from a Kalighat album

October 10, 2026The handmaiden again pleads for the death of the prince, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night — Lalu

The handmaiden again pleads for the death of the prince, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night

October 10, 2026Portrait of Sir Captain West of the Dutton Indiaman — John I Smart

Portrait of Sir Captain West of the Dutton Indiaman

October 10, 2026Portrait of a Woman — John I Smart

Portrait of a Woman

October 10, 2026A female figure standing in a landscape holding a four-stringed “khuuchir” and a lotus — Anonymous, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)

A female figure standing in a landscape holding a four-stringed “khuuchir” and a lotus

October 10, 2026The merchant hears of his wife’s unfaithfulness (above); the unfaithful wife performs penance by plucking her hair (below), from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): First Night — Anonymous, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)

The merchant hears of his wife’s unfaithfulness (above); the unfaithful wife performs penance by plucking her hair (below), from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): First Night

October 10, 2026

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