Akbar II on an elephant
Painting
1827 (painted)
1827 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This Company Painting depicts Akbar II (1759-1837), who became the penultimate Mughal emperor (King of Delhi) in 1806. He is seated on an elephant with his son Prince Mirza Selim behind him holding a peacock-feather fan. The paper contains a watermark of 1821, and since the painting was formerly in the collection of Lord Amherst, Governor-General of Fort William (1823-1828), it was probably made for him and his wife during their visit to Delhi in 1827. On his death, Akbar II was succeeded by the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II.
‘Company paintings’ were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East India Company. They represent a fusion of traditional Indian artistic styles with conventions and technical features borrowed from western art. Some Company paintings were specially commissioned, while others were virtually mass-produced and could be purchased in bazaars.
‘Company paintings’ were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East India Company. They represent a fusion of traditional Indian artistic styles with conventions and technical features borrowed from western art. Some Company paintings were specially commissioned, while others were virtually mass-produced and could be purchased in bazaars.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Akbar II on an elephant (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, The Mughal emperor Akbar II; on an elephant; his son seated behind him, Delhi, ca.1827 |
| Physical description | The Mughal emperor Akbar II is portrayed on an elephant with his son seated behind him holding a peacock feather fan. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This Company Painting depicts Akbar II (1759-1837), who became the penultimate Mughal emperor (King of Delhi) in 1806. He is seated on an elephant with his son Prince Mirza Selim behind him holding a peacock-feather fan. The paper contains a watermark of 1821, and since the painting was formerly in the collection of Lord Amherst, Governor-General of Fort William (1823-1828), it was probably made for him and his wife during their visit to Delhi in 1827. On his death, Akbar II was succeeded by the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II. ‘Company paintings’ were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East India Company. They represent a fusion of traditional Indian artistic styles with conventions and technical features borrowed from western art. Some Company paintings were specially commissioned, while others were virtually mass-produced and could be purchased in bazaars. |
| 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 163 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.59-1964 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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