Yogini with a Mynah Bird

It is dated to the early 17th century, and presumably commissioned for the court of Ibrahim Adil Shah II. == Description ==

The principal subject is a woman, who has the characteristic features of a yogini, with ash-coloured skin and top-knotted hair. She is wearing a red peshwaj, with a golden dupatta and gold jewellery. A myna bird is perched upon her right hand. ==Analysis==

. The woman's appearance gives rise to conflicting interpretations. Her top-knotted hair and ash-besmeared skin identify her as a yogini. The elongated shape of her body also points toward her status as an ascetic, as her leanness may be due to fasting. This depiction of princess-like yoginis is common in Deccan art. Examples of this include a painting in the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum. Mark Zebrowski interprets her to be a sorceress. He describes her face as "Medusa-like" and points out that the bird could represent an ill omen. He says that the dark theme of the painting may represent the "seductive heresies" that enticed Ibrahim II away from orthodox Islam. == References ==