Enjoy a close encounter with several colorful 17th-century Northern Indian paintings from the MFA's superb South Asian collection, including this page from the earliest known manuscript by Sahibdin. Older paintings were limited to traditional mineral-based pigments, but over time, artists expanded their palette to include colors derived from unique sources, from the red of crushed insects to yellow from cow urine. View these paintings in various wavelengths of light to explore how they were painted and what colorants were incorporated.

With Erin Mysak, Schorr Family Associate Research Scientist, Scientific Research Laboratory.

Free with general admission. No advance registration or tickets required. Due to space constraints, tours are limited to 12 participants (first come, first served). Tours meet at Sharf Visitor Center. Assistive listening devices available upon request.