# Falcon

- Date: c. 1770
- Medium: Gum tempera and gold on paper
- Classification: Painting
- Dimensions: Image: 27.6 x 16 cm (10 7/8 x 6 5/16 in.); Overall: 31.6 x 19.8 cm (12 7/16 x 7 13/16 in.)
- Culture: Northern India, Pahari kingdoms
- Credit line: Edward L. Whittemore Fund
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/1968.42)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://invisiblenetwork.ai/thumbs/cma/1968.42/1968.42_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Little Ones profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The imperial Mughal practice of keeping portraits of animals was adopted by art patrons and collectors in small states and kingdoms under the umbrella of the Mughals. Falconry, the sport of hunting small game with a bird of prey, was a popular activity among the highest ranks of Mughal royalty. The falcon depicted in this painting appears to be a peregrine. Cords with bells keep the trained hunting bird tethered to its roost.