Shah Alam II
Painting
ca. 1800 (painted)
ca. 1800 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Shah Alam II (r. 1759-1806) inherited the Mughal throne two years after the Battle of Plassey, often regarded as the pivotal point in the fortunes of the British in India. His fortunes rarely prospered, and in 1788 he was blinded by his enemies. He ended his life in Delhi under the protection of the British, with no power, but still universally regarded as the emperor. This portrait of the blind monarch is in the Delhi style of ca. 1800.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Shah Alam II (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Shah Alam II enthroned, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Delhi, ca. 1800 |
| Physical description | The blind Mughal emperor Shah Alam II is shown seated on a golden throne, with his son and two attendants near him. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | SHAH ‘ALAM II (1759-1806)
Opaque water colour and gold on paper
Delhi
ca. 1800
IS.114-1986
Shah Alam II inherited the Mughal throne two years after the Battle of Plassey, often regarded as the pivotal point in the fortunes of the British in India. His fortunes rarely prospered, and in 1788 he was blinded by his enemies. He ended his life in Delhi under the protection of the British, with no power, but still universally regarded as the emperor.
(2008) |
| Object history | Purchased from Christie's South Kensington in 1986 (86/1736) Dalrymple, William and Sharma, Yuthika (eds). Princes and Painters in Mughal Delhi, 1707-1857. New York : Asia Society ; New Haven [Conn.] : Yale University Press, 2012. ISBN 9780300176667 ; 030017666X. p.98-99, cat. no. 25. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Shah Alam II (r. 1759-1806) inherited the Mughal throne two years after the Battle of Plassey, often regarded as the pivotal point in the fortunes of the British in India. His fortunes rarely prospered, and in 1788 he was blinded by his enemies. He ended his life in Delhi under the protection of the British, with no power, but still universally regarded as the emperor. This portrait of the blind monarch is in the Delhi style of ca. 1800. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.114-1986 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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