Not currently on display at the V&A

Jahangir and Qutb ad-Din Khan Koka

Painting
1605-1627 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Mughal emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) sits crosslegged on a low platform beneath a rectangular red sandstone canopy. Behind him, a young man holds a flywhisk, one of the emblems of royalty, above his head. All the characters are identified by minute Persian inscriptions. On the terrace below the platform, on the left, is the emperor's foster-brother, Qutb al-Din Khan Koka. On the right are Raja Sangram, zamindar of Kharagpur, whose son is the boy holding the fly whisk behind the emperor. Raja Sangram died in 1606. The other figure is Dalpat Ujjainiya, wearing the four-pointed jama fashionable in Akbar's reign. The painting was probably done in the early years of Jahangir's reign, and is attributed to the artist Manohar in the lower border. It was later remounted for an album of Shah Jahan, when the floral borders characteristic of his reign were added. The original album was broken up, and many of the paintings were copied in about 1800. Lady Wantage bequeathed to the museum loose folios, comprising 17th century court paintings and some of the later copies. These were all believed to be genuine until 1949, when the great Indian scholar Moti Chandra analysed the features of the later copies in his groundbreaking book The Technique of Mughal Painting.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJahangir and Qutb ad-Din Khan Koka (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Brief description
Painting, Jahangir receiving Qutb ad-Din Khan Koka at Lahore, by Manohar, opaque watercolour on paper, Mughal, 1605-1610
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, depicting the emperor Jahangir receiving Qutb ad-Din Khan Koka at Lahore. The emperor sits cross-legged on a low platform beneath a rectangular red sandstone canopy, with a young man behind him holding a fly whisk above his head. On the terrace below the platform, on the left, Qutb al-Din Khan Koka wears a gold short coat above a green jama and holds his hands respectfully upwards towards the emperor. On the right are Raja Sangram, zamindar of Kharakpur, whose son is the boy holding the fly whisk behind the emperor. The other figure is Dalpat Ujjainiya, wearing the four-pointed jama of Akbar's reign.
Dimensions
  • Picture,painting only, without borders height: 19.8cm
  • Painting only, without borders width: 12.8cm
  • Page width: 38.7cm
  • Page width: 26cm
Content description
The Mughal emperor Jahangir receiving Qutb ad-Din Khan Koka at Lahore. The emperor sits crosslegged on a low platform beneath a rectangular red sandstone canopy, with a young man behind him holding a flywhisk above his head. On the terrace below the platform, on the left, Qutb al-Din Khan Koka wears a gold short coat above a green jama and holds his hands respectfully upwards towards the emperor. On the right are Raja Sangram, zamindar of Kharakpur, whose son is the boy holding the fly whisk behind the emperor. The other figure is Dalpat Ujjainiya, wearing the four-pointed jama of Akbar's reign.
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • shabih-e hazrat-e nur al-din muhammad jahangir padshah
    Translation
    [on footstool]: likeness of His Highness Nur al-Din Muhammad Jahangir Padshah
  • shabih-e qutb al-din khan koka
    Translation
    [at left of figure on left] likeness of Qutb al-Din Khan Koka
  • shabih-e raja sangram zamindar-e kharagpur
    Translation
    [on jama of figure at extreme right] likeness of Raja Sangram, zamindar of Kharagpur
  • shabih-e ruzafzun, pesar-e sangram
    Translation
    [on the column next to the boy] Ruzafzun, the son of Sangram
  • shabih-e dalpat ujjainiya
    Translation
    likeness of Dalpat Ujjainiya [on orange jama of figure on right nearest to Jahangir]
Gallery label
JAHANGIR (r. 1605-1627) RECEIVING NOBLES Opaque water colour and gold on paper Mughal, by Manohar ca. 1605 IM.111-1921 Bequeathed by Lady Wantage All the figures in this scene are identified by minute Persian inscriptions. The emperor’s foster brother Qutb al-Din Khan Koka is on the left. Raja Sangram, the zamindar (landholder) of Kharagpur in Bihar, is on the far right. His son, Ruzafzun, stands behind Jahangir, holding up a flywhisk, one of the emblems of royalty. The other figure is Dalpat Ujjainiya, whose daughter had married one of Jahangir’s sons. The picture was later remounted for an album of Shah Jahan, when the floral borders were added. (2008)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Lady Wantage
Object history
Part of the bequest of the Right Honourable Harriet Sarah Baroness Wantage, of Locking House, Wantage Berks, widow of the first and last Baron Wantage, V.C., K.C.B., V.D.

R.P. 1920-8342, 1920-5869, 1921-3081, 1921-177
Historical context
Raja Sangram died at the end of 1606, according to Jahangir's memoirs.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The Mughal emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) sits crosslegged on a low platform beneath a rectangular red sandstone canopy. Behind him, a young man holds a flywhisk, one of the emblems of royalty, above his head. All the characters are identified by minute Persian inscriptions. On the terrace below the platform, on the left, is the emperor's foster-brother, Qutb al-Din Khan Koka. On the right are Raja Sangram, zamindar of Kharagpur, whose son is the boy holding the fly whisk behind the emperor. Raja Sangram died in 1606. The other figure is Dalpat Ujjainiya, wearing the four-pointed jama fashionable in Akbar's reign. The painting was probably done in the early years of Jahangir's reign, and is attributed to the artist Manohar in the lower border. It was later remounted for an album of Shah Jahan, when the floral borders characteristic of his reign were added. The original album was broken up, and many of the paintings were copied in about 1800. Lady Wantage bequeathed to the museum loose folios, comprising 17th century court paintings and some of the later copies. These were all believed to be genuine until 1949, when the great Indian scholar Moti Chandra analysed the features of the later copies in his groundbreaking book The Technique of Mughal Painting.
Bibliographic references
  • Susan Stronge, Painting for the Mughal Emperor. The Art of the Book 1560-1650, pl. 86, p. 121.
  • Terence McInerny, "Manohar", in Pratapaditya Pal, ed., Master Artists of the Imperial Mughal Court, Marg Publications, Bombay, 1991
  • Clarke, C. Stanley; Indian Drawings: Thirty Mogul Paintings of the School of Jehangir and Four Panels of Calligraphy ini the Wantage Bequest. London 1922 No. 9, pl. 7
Collection
Accession number
IM.111-1921

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Record createdMarch 20, 2008
Record URL
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