The Deccan Plateau of central and southern India consisted of small kingdoms ruled by Muslim leaders, independent of the Mughal Empire to the north. In 1565 some of these kingdoms formed an alliance and won a victory against the Hindu empire that had traditionally controlled the southern half of the subcontinent. The dissolution of this great court brought highly skilled Hindu craftsmen and artisans into the Muslim kingdoms, resulting in a fertile period of artistic development and a blending of artistic heritages. Evident in this watercolor are vibrant Hindu color schemes melded with a subject matter and style indicative of the Persian tradition.