Hunting Scene, Tomasso Colonnello

In continuation with the splendour of the central painting of Fath Ali Shah with his twenty-two
sons, hunting scenes were added throughout the ceiling in various forms. These were painted directly on the ceiling.

Representations of varied animals and birds amidst medallions of Persian motifs are painted. The central medallion is embellished with floral motifs, entwined with circular creepers. Buds and blossomed flowers dominate in a circular arrangement, while the four sides of this medallion show intricately painted vine leaves.

Four seated lions with their upturned heads form a repeated motif around the central medallion while standing antelopes and deer form another motif of this fresco. Teeming flora and fauna with chirping birds entwined with rosettes provide an alluring charm to this painting in the bright colour palette. Flowering motifs can be seen on all four sides, encased within geometric shapes. The whole composition is conceived within a broad double border with cartouches, joined together with floral motifs. A frieze of Persian calligraphy forms the second border of this pictorial hunting scene.

Portfolio Name: Paintings in the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan
Source: Lalit Kala Akademi