Idealized Portrait of the Mughal Empress Nur Jahan (1577-1645)

 Idealized Portrait of the Mughal Empress Nur Jahan

This Indian painting has a realism that most early Indian paintings do not possess. This woman appears more human with expression and action unlike other pieces.  Her profile  doesn't have the forward facing eyes previously seen either.  This is a painting with more of the European  feel to it.  The skin tone and colors of the the jewelry is realistic.  In comparison to the piece, "Krishna and the Gopis", this woman is very different.  The woman in this painting was royalty, which was very rare at the time for a female to be painting like this.

Soldier Playing Cards by Candlelight by Peter Wtewael

Soldiers Playing Cards By Candlelight by Peter Wtewael (1596- 1660)

This painting has a strong use of tenebrism to highlight the important action in the painting and take away from the unimportant parts like the background and men's backs.  The expresses on the men's face really reflect some of a real men playing cards.  The man on the left looks confident while man on the right looks to be questioning his friend's move.  Peter Wtewael did well to make the candlelight glow on the faces of the men and the object around them.  I had read that it is rumored that one of the men is Wtewael's brother in law.