Arjumand Banu Begum
Painting
ca. 1820 (made)
ca. 1820 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A Company Painting is a picture made by an Indian artist for the British in India. This one is a portrait in watercolour on ivory. An unknown Delhi artist painted it in about 1830. It depicts Arjumand Banu Begum, better known as Mumtaz Mahal ('Elect of the Palace'). She was the favourite wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. She died shortly after giving birth to her fourteenth child in 1631. The following year the emperor began work on the mausoleum that would house her body. The result was the world-famous Taj Mahal, situated by the River Jumna at Agra.
There are no contemporary portraits of Mumtaz Mahal. This imaginary picture is one of thousands that artists produced to satisfy a huge demand for images of Shah Jahan's favourite. Painting on ivory in India has an ancient history. However, this kind of portrait painting did not develop on a large scale until the 18th century, as a result of British influence. Indian artists soon adjusted to the new technique of stippling (painting with small dots) and watercolour tinting instead of line-drawing and opaque colour. They still practice it today.
There are no contemporary portraits of Mumtaz Mahal. This imaginary picture is one of thousands that artists produced to satisfy a huge demand for images of Shah Jahan's favourite. Painting on ivory in India has an ancient history. However, this kind of portrait painting did not develop on a large scale until the 18th century, as a result of British influence. Indian artists soon adjusted to the new technique of stippling (painting with small dots) and watercolour tinting instead of line-drawing and opaque colour. They still practice it today.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Arjumand Banu Begum (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in watercolour on ivory |
| Brief description | Painting, Arjumand Bano Begam (Mumtaz Mahal), in watercolour on ivory, Delhi, ca. 1820 |
| Physical description | Painting, in watercolour on ivory, a portrait of Arjumand Banu Begum (Mumtaz Mahal), favourite wife of Shah Jahan, for whom he built the Taj Mahal at Agra. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | A portrait of Arjumand Banu Begum (Mumtaz Mahal), favourite wife of Shah Jahan, for whom he built the Taj Mahal at Agra. |
| Style | |
| Credit line | Purchased from Messrs luzac & Co., 46 Great Russell Street |
| Object history | Purchased from Messrs luzac & Co., 46 Great Russell Street. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. RP 1913-1239M |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | A Company Painting is a picture made by an Indian artist for the British in India. This one is a portrait in watercolour on ivory. An unknown Delhi artist painted it in about 1830. It depicts Arjumand Banu Begum, better known as Mumtaz Mahal ('Elect of the Palace'). She was the favourite wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. She died shortly after giving birth to her fourteenth child in 1631. The following year the emperor began work on the mausoleum that would house her body. The result was the world-famous Taj Mahal, situated by the River Jumna at Agra. There are no contemporary portraits of Mumtaz Mahal. This imaginary picture is one of thousands that artists produced to satisfy a huge demand for images of Shah Jahan's favourite. Painting on ivory in India has an ancient history. However, this kind of portrait painting did not develop on a large scale until the 18th century, as a result of British influence. Indian artists soon adjusted to the new technique of stippling (painting with small dots) and watercolour tinting instead of line-drawing and opaque colour. They still practice it today. |
| Bibliographic reference | Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period
Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 219 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.277-1913 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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