Prince visiting a shaykh / Calligraphy and signature; single-page painting on a detached album folio. Side A (recto): Meeting between a shaykh and a figure identified as the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan or his son, Dara Shikoh, against an agricultural background. The dervish, identified by his yogapatta (strap) and holding a rosary in one hand, is depicted in the action of offering a flower, thus his blessings, to the prince. Offerings from Sufis could symbolise the dominion over a region and imbue a ruler’s authority with a sacred dimension. Made by: Mir `Alí Katib biography Mughal Style 1650 (circa)