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The Mughal Dynasty Babur, the first Mughal king, loved gardens. When the artist Payag painted this portrait, many years after Babur’s death, he created a setting that would have delighted the king. Babur is portrayed seated on a carpet set upon a grassy mound. A stream bubbles gently over mossy rocks. Fragrant flowers surround Babur, as he gazes upon the jewel in his hand. A gilded book rests on Babur’s lap. The book may represent his famous memoir, the Baburnama (The Story of Babur). Throughout his years in Delhi, Babur missed his home in Central Asia, and his feelings shine clearly through in the Babur-nama. He writes about his longing for the snow-capped peaks, the broad-leafed trees, and the juicy melons of Ferghana. He complains about hot, dusty Delhi although he enjoys its monsoon rains. The nicest thing about India, writes Babur, is that it is ‘a large country with lots of gold and money’.
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