Page from a Book of Omens

Unknown Artist

Opaque watercolor and ink on paper

Metropolitan Museum of Art

This charming folio depicts a stylized tiger, rendered in bold ochre and black stripes with a jaunty curled tail, striding across a cream ground scattered with tufted green grasses. The animal wears a decorative saddle-cloth and collar, suggesting it was understood as a tamed or symbolic creature rather than a wild beast, likely tied to divinatory or astrological meanings within the manuscript tradition. Bordered by delicate rose-colored rules, the painting's flat perspective and folk-art charm reflect a provincial manuscript style, probably from the Deccan or another regional Indian painting center. Its whimsical character and warm palette make it a delightful, conversation-starting addition to any wall, bridging ancient manuscript art with modern decorative sensibility.