Not on display

Hamza converses with Hura the genie while a dragon approaches

Painting.
ca. 1562-1577 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Hamzanama, or 'Book of Hamza' was commissioned by the great Mughal emperor Akbar in the mid-16th century. The epic story of a character based very loosely on the life of the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad chronicles the fantastic adventures of Hamza as he and his band of heroes fight against the enemies of Islam. The stories, from a long-established oral tradition, were written down in Persian, the language of the court, in multiple volumes. These originally had 1400 illustrations, of which fewer than 200 survive today. Work probably began in about 1562 and took 15 years to complete.

In this illustration, Hamza is deep in coversation with a demon called Hura, unaware that a dragon is approaching from behind rocks to the right. Hamza's close companion, Umar, gesticulates wildly to warn Hamza. To the left, demons tear apart an unknown creature, throwing severed limbs and a head to the ground, ignored by the peris (or fairies) who stand around them.

Object details

Object type
TitleHamza converses with Hura the genie while a dragon approaches (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Opaque watercolour on prepared cotton backed with paper; Persian text on reverse written on paper backed with cotton; the four layers glued together
Brief description
Hamza converses with Hura the genie while a dragon approaches. Hamzanama ca.1562-77.
Physical description
Hamza is deep in conversation with Hura the genie as they sit together on the terrace of a pavilion, unaware that a dragon is approaching from the right. Hamza's companion, Umar, gesticulates wildly to try to warn Hamza. To the left, fairies (peris) stand and watch the scene impassively, ignoring the spotted demons in their midst who tear a creature in half, and the limbs and head that have been thrown on the ground.
Dimensions
  • Painting height: 67.5cm
  • Painting width: 51.3cm
  • Folio height: 73.8cm
  • Folio width: 57.9cm
all dimensions approximate due to the irregularity of the folio
Style
Marks and inscriptions
41 (Inscribed on text side)
Gallery label
(2008)
HAMZA TALKS TO HURA THE GENIE WHILE A DRAGON APPROACHES
Page from the Hamzanama
Gouache and gold on cotton; calligraphy written on paper on the reverse
Mughal
ca. 1562-1577

IS.1505-1883

Fewer than 200 of the original 1400 pictures said to have been painted for the Hamzanama volumes are now known. In this one, Hamza is deep in conversation with Hura, unaware of a dragon approaching from behind. Hamza's close companion, Umar, gesticulates wildly to warn him. To the left, demons tear apart an unknown creature, throwing severed limbs and a head to the ground, ignored by the peris (fairies) who stand around them.

Object history
Bought by Caspar Purdon Clarke in Srinagar 1881. His Portfolio essay (p. 3) states: 'Twenty-four of these [illustrations to the Hamza nama] were purchased at Srinagar, Kashmir, in 1881, where they were discovered, by the late Sir C. Purdon Clarke, in one of the picturesque wooden huts on the Hawa Kadal Bridge spanning the River Jhelum. Several of the badly damaged specimens were rescued from the lattice-windows of the humble curiosity-shop, over which they had been plastered by the vendor during the previous frosty season. It should, however, be explained that the numerous greyish-pink smudges which, alas, replace human faces in the paintings, are the result of Moslem fanaticism'.
Historical context
The production of the illustrated volumes of the epic romance the Hamzanama, or 'Book of Hamza' was the first major project commissioned by the young Mughal emperor Akbar after his accession. The work was directed by two Iranian masters brought to Hindustan by his father, Humayun, and took fifteen years to complete.
Subject depicted
Summary
The Hamzanama, or 'Book of Hamza' was commissioned by the great Mughal emperor Akbar in the mid-16th century. The epic story of a character based very loosely on the life of the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad chronicles the fantastic adventures of Hamza as he and his band of heroes fight against the enemies of Islam. The stories, from a long-established oral tradition, were written down in Persian, the language of the court, in multiple volumes. These originally had 1400 illustrations, of which fewer than 200 survive today. Work probably began in about 1562 and took 15 years to complete.

In this illustration, Hamza is deep in coversation with a demon called Hura, unaware that a dragon is approaching from behind rocks to the right. Hamza's close companion, Umar, gesticulates wildly to warn Hamza. To the left, demons tear apart an unknown creature, throwing severed limbs and a head to the ground, ignored by the peris (or fairies) who stand around them.
Bibliographic references
  • C. Stanley Clarke. Indian Drawings. Twelve Mogul Paintings of the School of Humayun (16th century) illustrating the Romance of Amir Hamzah. Victoria and Albert Museum Portfolios, London, 1921. Heinrich Glück, Die indischen miniaturen des Hæmzæ-romanes im Österreichischen museum für kunst und industrie in Wien und in anderen sammlungen, Leipzig, Zurich and Vienna, 1925, fig. 8 Ralph Pinder-Wilson et al, Paintings from the Muslim Courts of India, London: World of Islam Publishing Company, 1976, no. 5 Milo Cleveland Beach, Early Mughal Painting, Harvard University Press, 1987, fig. 43
  • Stronge, Susan. Painting for the Mughal Emperor, V&A Publications 2002, pl. 3, p. 16
  • Asok Kumar Das, Dawn of Mughal Painting, Bombay, 1982, plate 1, p. 10
  • Topsfield, Andrew, An introduction to Indian Court Painting, H.M.S.O., London, 1984, 0112903835 p. 14, cat. no. 6.
  • Seyller, John W. & Koch, Ebba, The Adventures of Hamza: Painting and Storytelling in Mughal India, Smithsonian Institution, 2002 pp.84-85
Collection
Accession number
IS.1505-1883

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 8, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest