Paintings from the indian subcontinent bedazzle the viewer with their minute details‎,‎ colours and aesthetic qualities‎.‎ Relatively modest in size‎,‎ they often illustrate historical events‎,‎ religious texts and poetry‎,‎ or document life at court‎.‎ Painted with watersolved pigments on paper‎,‎ they invite closer observation and allow insight into the artistic traditions of india‎.‎ ‎"‎A secret garden‎"‎ is the name of an outstanding private collection of indian paintings‎.‎ It comprises works spanning seven centuries from the time of the sultans ‎(‎1206‎-1526‎)‎ through to the nineteenth century‎.‎ This new book features a selection of 105 artworks from danielle porret‎'‎s collection‎.‎ Each entry provides a stylistic analysis of the painting as well as a discussion of the subject matter by leading experts in the field of indian painting‎.‎ Museum rietberg zurich is one of europe‎'‎s leading museums for non‎-european art‎.‎