This portrait of prince Khurram, the eldest son of the Mughal emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) was almost certainly painted when Jahangir bestowed upon him the title Shah Jahan, meaning 'King of the World'. Shah Jahan retained the title when he succeeded his father as emperor in 1628.
In later years, Shah Jahan added the Persian inscription in black ink in the border, noting that it is 'a good likeness of me in my twenty-fifth year and it is the fine work of Abu'l Hasan'.
The minute Nasta'aliq inscription in gold beginning on the right of the green ground, under Shah Jahan's hand, and continuing on the left beneath his right elbow may be translated: Blessed likeness of the qibla [the direction of Mecca] and master of mankind / the work of the [artist] born in hereditary palatial service Nadir al-Zaman. The title 'Shah Jahan' is written above his head in gold.
Physical description
Shah Jahan is depicted wearing an orange jama, standing facing right with his face in strict profile and holding a turban ornament. The deep green background is filled with flowering plants. Persian verses reserved against a gold ground filled with interlocking lines bearing coloured palmettes and leaves are in narrow borders at left and right. The painting and verses are contained within a frame of gold palmettes on scrollling lines, and the outer borders are filled with flowering plants painted in gold with colours, now very faded.
Place of Origin
India (possibly, made)
Pakistan (possibly, made)
Date
ca. 1616-1617 (painted)
Artist/maker
Abu'l Hasan (artist)
Materials and Techniques
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Marks and inscriptions
shabih-e khub-e bist u panj salagi-ye man ast va kar khub-e nadir al-zaman ast this is a fine likeness of me in my 25th year and this is fine work by Nader al-Zaman [=Abu'l Hasan]
Dimensions
Height: 38.7 cm Page, Width: 26.6 cm page, Height: 20.6 cm painting only, Width: 11.5 cm painting only
Object history note
The folio is from a group of paintings acquired at auction in 1925 where they were sold as "The Minto Album" and subsequently divided between the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin and the V&A.
Descriptive line
Portrait of Shah Jahan as a prince
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
The Indian Heritage. Court Life and Arts under Mughal Rule, V&A, London, 1982, p.37, cat. 41(by Robert Skelton) ISBN 0906969263 Guy, J., and Swallow, D., (eds). ‘Arts of India: 1550-1900’. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990. ISBN 1851770224.p81. no.56.
A.S. Melikian-Chirvani, "The Jewelled Objects of Hindustan" in Beatriz Chadour-Sampson and Nigel Israel, eds., Jewellery Studies, vol. 10, 2004, pp. 9-32: illustrated figs. 10 and 11 (detail of turban jewel held in Shah Jahan's hand); discussed pp. 18-21.
T.Koezuka, ed; RC,TK,SS. Catalogue; Intro DS,TK; The Arts of the Indian Courts.Osaka,1993. No.4
Asok Kumar Das, Splendour of Mughal Painting, Bombay, 1986, plate IX, p. 36
Exhibition History
The Indian Heritage (Victoria and Albert Museum 01/01/1982-31/12/1982)
Diamonds (Natural History Museum, London 01/01/2005-31/12/2005)
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Costume; Jewellery; Shah Jahan
Categories
Paintings
Collection code
SSEA
