Malik Ambar
Painting
c. 1622 (made)
c. 1622 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Malik Ambar was born in Ethopia in 1548 with the name Chapu and was sold into slavery. He was eventually bought by a leading member of the Nizam Shahi court of Ahmadnagar, one of the fragile sultanates of the Deccan. The slave became a soldier, and eventually a commander of the Nizam Shahi army, leading it against the Mughal army of the emperor Akbar. By 1600 he had become Regent of the Kingdom, effectively ruling Ahmadnagar until his death in 1626. His army scored significant victories against the Mughals during the reign of Jahangir. The Mughal army was led by Jahangir's son, Shah Jahan, who rebelled against his father in 1622 and sought support from his former enemy. It is probable that Hashim was sent with Shah Jahan's envoy and painted this naturalistic portrait after seeing the subject at first hand.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Malik Ambar (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, portrait of Malik Ambar, by Hashim, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal empire, reign of Jahangir, ca. 1622-1623 |
| Physical description | Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Malik Ambar stands facing right, depicted against a plain light green ground. He is dressed in layers of fine white muslin, and holds a sword of Deccani form with a red scabbard. He has mauve trousers and red shoes. His red belt has gold pendant ornaments over which his multi-coloured sash is looped. The artist's signature is to the right of his sword. The later borders painted in the reign of Shah Jahan are filled with blossoming plants. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | Portrait of Malik Ambar. |
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | PORTRAIT OF MALIK ‘AMBAR
Opaque water colour and gold on paper
Mughal, by Hashem
ca. 1624-25
IM.21-1925
Malik ‘Ambar was born in Ethiopia and sold into slavery, eventually being bought by the chief minister of Ahmadnagar in the Deccan. He was an elite, military slave, and reached high office and was exceptional in becoming chief minister of Ahmadnagar himself. Ultimately, he became ruler in all but name. This portrait is inscribed by the artist “likness of ‘Ambar, the work of Hashem”.
(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. |
| Production | A closely similar portrait, also with floral borders, is in the Musee du Louvre: 'Portrait de Malik Ambar Date de création/fabrication : 2ème quart du XVIIe siècle et 2ème quart du XVIe siècle (vers 1627 - 1645 et vers 1635 - 1640) Mir Hashim, Attribué à Numéro principal : OA 7172 Recto' |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Malik Ambar was born in Ethopia in 1548 with the name Chapu and was sold into slavery. He was eventually bought by a leading member of the Nizam Shahi court of Ahmadnagar, one of the fragile sultanates of the Deccan. The slave became a soldier, and eventually a commander of the Nizam Shahi army, leading it against the Mughal army of the emperor Akbar. By 1600 he had become Regent of the Kingdom, effectively ruling Ahmadnagar until his death in 1626. His army scored significant victories against the Mughals during the reign of Jahangir. The Mughal army was led by Jahangir's son, Shah Jahan, who rebelled against his father in 1622 and sought support from his former enemy. It is probable that Hashim was sent with Shah Jahan's envoy and painted this naturalistic portrait after seeing the subject at first hand. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic reference | Susan Stronge, Painting for the Mughal Emperor. The art of the book 1560-1650, V&A Publications, 2002, pl. 123, p. 160
Richard M. Eaton, A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761. Eight Indian Lives, The New Cambridge History of India, I.8, Cambridge University Press, 2005,Chapter 5, 'Malik Ambar (1548-1626): the rise and fall of military slavery, pp. 105-128 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.21-1925 |
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| Record created | January 14, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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