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Muhammad Shah

Painting
ca. 1740 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, portrait of the emperor Muhammad Shah (1719-1748). The emperor is depicted seated on a low gold throne, facing left, wearing a white robe and turban with a gold girdle and turban band, and with gold chains on his neck and left arm. He also wears a double pearl necklace. A punch dagger is in his girdle, and a falcon is perched on his outstretched right hand. One of his ministers stands before him, and behind is a chowrie bearer, both wearing white. They are all on a white terrace next to a grey river with green banks of the opposite shore in the distance.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMuhammad Shah (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Brief description
Painting of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1740
Physical description
Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, portrait of the emperor Muhammad Shah (1719-1748). The emperor is depicted seated on a low gold throne, facing left, wearing a white robe and turban with a gold girdle and turban band, and with gold chains on his neck and left arm. He also wears a double pearl necklace. A punch dagger is in his girdle, and a falcon is perched on his outstretched right hand. One of his ministers stands before him, and behind is a chowrie bearer, both wearing white. They are all on a white terrace next to a grey river with green banks of the opposite shore in the distance.
Dimensions
  • Height: 302mm (Note: 01/05/2013 dimensions measured as part of Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project 2013)
  • Width: 220mm
01/05/2013 dimensions measured as part of Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project 2013
Content description
Portrait of emperor Muhammad Shah. The emperor is depicted seated on a low gold throne, facing left, wearing a white robe and turban with a gold girdle and turban band, and with gold chains on his neck and left arm. He also wears a double pearl necklace. A punch dagger is in his girdle, and a falcon is perched on his outstretched right hand. One of his ministers stands before him, and behind is a chowrie bearer, both wearing white. They are all on a white terrace next to a grey river with green banks of the opposite shore in the distance.
Style
Marks and inscriptions
(Persian inscription and seal impression on the back)
Credit line
Given by Sir Robert Nathan, K.C.S.I., C.I.E
Object history
Bought in India by Sir Robert Nathan from Maulvi Muhammad Hussain, Judge in the Small Claims Court in Delhi.
Historical context
Sir Robert Nathan was the Viceroy's Permanent Secretary . He seems to have purchased all the paintings now in the V&A in 1904-5, from Maulvi Muhammad Husain, Judge, Small Claims Court in Delhi. See 1921/4451
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
IM.238-1921

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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