Drawing
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This 19th century Indian drawing is adapted from a painting done for the Mughal emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) between about 1616 and 1620. The original, now in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, belongs to a series of allegorical subjects. It represents the emperor shooting an arrow at the head of his major enemy, Malik Ambar. This former slave of African origin had risen to be the effective ruler of the Deccan sultanate of Ahmadnagar. Jahangir was enraged by Malik Ambar's ability to repel the Mughal army, which had made many attacks on this and other sultanates of the Deccan. One of Jahangir's leading artists created a painting in which the emperor symbolically puts an end to his foe, whom neither Jahangir nor the artist had every seen. Every element of the composition has a meaning. The globe on which the emperor stands alludes to his name, which means 'Seizer of the World'. The golden chain linking the standard bearing Malik 'Ambar's head to the globe alludes to the 'chain of justice' attached to the palace walls on Jahangir's orders. Those who had been denied justice could, in theory, pull it to attract the attention of the emperor and bring their case before him. In the 19th century version, additional figures in roundels surround the composition. They are identified by Persian inscriptions in black ink, and trace Jahangir's royal lineage back to Timur, the Central Asian ruler. The cherubs hovering above his head hold emblems of royalty. This drawing indicates the colours to be used when the composition has been transferred by pouncing onto a separate sheet. A finished version of the V&A model, painted by Ghulam Ali Khan, is in the San Diego Museum, and is part of the Edwin Binney 3rd collection (1990.409).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Drawn with a brush in ink on paper |
| Brief description | Drawing, the Mughal emperor Jahangir standing on a globe shooting an arrow at the head of Malik Ambar impaled on a standard, drawn in Indian ink on paper with identifications of the main figures and indications of colours to be painted, pricked, probably Delhi, 19th century |
| Physical description | Drawing, in Indian ink on paper, touches of watercolour, pricked for use as a pinhole stencil, depicting Jahangir (1605-1627) standing on a globe resting on a ram, upheld by a fish. He shoots at the head of Malik Ambar head stuck on a spear, with bow and arrow. In the clouds above, two winged cherubs hold an arrow and a staff; eight circular compartments are arranged round the Emperor, each enclosing the seated figure of one of his ancestors. Starting at the top and continuing on to the left, they are 1) Amir Timur Sahib Qiran (1336-1405), 2) Miran Shah Mirga (1367-1408), 3) Sultan Muhammed Mirza (died ca. 1441), 4) Sultan Abu Said Mirza (1427-1469), 5) Umar Sheikh Mirza (1456-94), father of the first Mughal emperor of India, Babur. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | The emperor Jahangir (1605-1627) standing on a globe resting on a ram, upheld by a fish. He shoots with bow and arrow at the head of Malik 'Ambar stuck on a spear. In the clouds above, two winged cherubs hold an arrow and a staff; eight circular compartments are arranged round the Emperor, each enclosing the seated figure of one of his ancestors. |
| Style | |
| Credit line | Purchased from J. Procter, Watson, Esq. |
| Object history | Purchased in 1914 for 10s from J. Procter, Watson, Esq., 1 Church Gate Street, The Fort, Bombay. 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. R.P. 1912-5260M |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This 19th century Indian drawing is adapted from a painting done for the Mughal emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) between about 1616 and 1620. The original, now in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, belongs to a series of allegorical subjects. It represents the emperor shooting an arrow at the head of his major enemy, Malik Ambar. This former slave of African origin had risen to be the effective ruler of the Deccan sultanate of Ahmadnagar. Jahangir was enraged by Malik Ambar's ability to repel the Mughal army, which had made many attacks on this and other sultanates of the Deccan. One of Jahangir's leading artists created a painting in which the emperor symbolically puts an end to his foe, whom neither Jahangir nor the artist had every seen. Every element of the composition has a meaning. The globe on which the emperor stands alludes to his name, which means 'Seizer of the World'. The golden chain linking the standard bearing Malik 'Ambar's head to the globe alludes to the 'chain of justice' attached to the palace walls on Jahangir's orders. Those who had been denied justice could, in theory, pull it to attract the attention of the emperor and bring their case before him. In the 19th century version, additional figures in roundels surround the composition. They are identified by Persian inscriptions in black ink, and trace Jahangir's royal lineage back to Timur, the Central Asian ruler. The cherubs hovering above his head hold emblems of royalty. This drawing indicates the colours to be used when the composition has been transferred by pouncing onto a separate sheet. A finished version of the V&A model, painted by Ghulam Ali Khan, is in the San Diego Museum, and is part of the Edwin Binney 3rd collection (1990.409). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.284-1914 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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