Shah Shuja', Aurangzeb and Murad Bakhsh
Painting
ca. 1635 (made)
ca. 1635 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This painting depicts three sons of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658). They are identified in the Persian inscription in the border beneath, which states that these are the likenesses of Shah Shuja' Bahadur, Aurangzeb Bahadur and Murad Bakhsh, and that it is the work of the artist Balchand. The artist's own faint signature is discernible on the white tree trunk behind the princes. The painting has the floral borders characteristic of the albums of Shah Jahan which contained folios with paintings on one side and specimens of fine calligraphy on the other. An 18th century copy of the painting is in the Bodleian Library, Oxford (Ms.Douce.Or.a.1 folio 24b).
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.
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Shah Shuja', Aurangzeb and Murad Bakhsh (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting depicting three sons of Shah Jahan on horseback, by Balchand, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1635 |
| Physical description | Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, depicting the three younger sons of Shah Jahan, Shah' Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad Bakhsh; they are shown riding horses in a landscape and are identified in the inscription in black ink beneath them, on the narrow frame. The painting is mounted on a page with flowering plants in opaque water colour and gold filling the borders at top, bottom and sides. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | The three younger sons of Shah Jahan, Shah' Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad Bakhsh; they are shown riding horses in a landscape. |
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | THE SONS OF SHAH JAHAN
Opaque water colour and gold on paper
Mughal, by Balchand
ca. 1635
IM.13-1925
The portraits of the three Mughal princes are identified in the lower border. They are Shah Shuja’, Shah Aurangzeb and Murad Bakhsh. Aurangzeb would later depose his father after Shah Jahan suffered a serious illness. A violent fight broke out between his sons, with Aurangzeb emerging as the winner. His brothers were put to death and he became emperor.
(2008) |
| Object history | 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. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This painting depicts three sons of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658). They are identified in the Persian inscription in the border beneath, which states that these are the likenesses of Shah Shuja' Bahadur, Aurangzeb Bahadur and Murad Bakhsh, and that it is the work of the artist Balchand. The artist's own faint signature is discernible on the white tree trunk behind the princes. The painting has the floral borders characteristic of the albums of Shah Jahan which contained folios with paintings on one side and specimens of fine calligraphy on the other. An 18th century copy of the painting is in the Bodleian Library, Oxford (Ms.Douce.Or.a.1 folio 24b). 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. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.13-1925 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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