Akbar  thumbnail 1
Akbar  thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Akbar

Painting
ca. 1590-95 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This illustration to the Akbarnama by Basawan and Dharmdas depicts Akbar hunting with cheetahs in the neighbourhood of Agra. The emperor was particularly fond of hunting and frequently participated in this exciting sport. Here, Akbar is the central figure on horseback chasing a cheetah. Other members of the hunting party are shown also participating in the capture of animals on foot, horseback and riding on elephants. Several cages are shown, which were used both to entrap animals (goats were placed in the cage to attract tigers) and to transport them.
The Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) was commissioned by the emperor Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written in Persian by Abu'l Fazl between 1590 and 1596 and is thought to have been illustrated between about 1592 and 1594 by at least 49 different artists from Akbar's studio. After Akbar's death in 1605, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) and later that of Shah Jahan (r.1628-1658). The Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, the widow of Major-General John Clarke. He bought it in India while serving as Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAkbar (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Brief description
Painting, Akbarnama, Akbar hunting with cheetahs, outline by Basawan, painting Dharmdas, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1590-95
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Akbar hunting with cheetahs in the neighbourhood of Agra.
Dimensions
  • Painting height: 33.5cm
  • Painting width: 19.6cm
  • Page height: 37.6cm
  • Page width: 23cm
Content description
Akbar hunting with cheetahs in the neighbourhood of Agra.
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
(Contemporary librarian's attribution in Persian written beneath the image at the bottom of the page in red ink.)
Translation
'Composition by Basawan/Work [=painting] by Dharmdas'
Transliteration
'Tarh Basawan/Amal Dharmdas'
Gallery label
AKBAR HUNTING WITH CHEETAHS From an imperial copy of the Akbarnama (“Book of Akbar”) Opaque water colour and gold on paper Mughal, composition by Basawan, painting by Dharmdas ca. 1590-95 IS.2:24-1896 Akbar, the central figure on horseback, is depicted hunting near Agra in 1561. The painting illustrates an incident described in the text, when a jackal (seen at upper left) had attacked a faun. According to the historian, “the weak was about to be injured by the strong”, but the jackal was driven away by the faun’s mother. This is interpreted in the Akbarnama as being due to the blessed influence of the emperor’s presence. (2008)
Credit line
Purchased from Mrs. Clarke, The Dingle, Sydenham Hill, S. E
Object history
The Akbarnama was commissioned by the Emperor Akbar as an official chronicle of his reign. It was written by his court historian and biographer Abu'l Fazl around 1590, and illustrated during the same decade by at least forty-nine different artists from Akbar's studio. After Akbar's death, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jehangir. The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from the widow of major General Clarke, an official who served as the Commissioner in Oudh province.

Historical significance: It is thought to be the first illustrated copy of the Akbarnama. It drew upon the expertise of some of the best royal painters of the time, many of whom receive special mention by Abu'l Fazl in the A'in-i-Akbari. The inscriptions in red ink on the bottom of the paintings name the artists.
Production
Composition by Basawan; painted by Dharmdas.
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Association
Literary referenceAkbarnama
Summary
This illustration to the Akbarnama by Basawan and Dharmdas depicts Akbar hunting with cheetahs in the neighbourhood of Agra. The emperor was particularly fond of hunting and frequently participated in this exciting sport. Here, Akbar is the central figure on horseback chasing a cheetah. Other members of the hunting party are shown also participating in the capture of animals on foot, horseback and riding on elephants. Several cages are shown, which were used both to entrap animals (goats were placed in the cage to attract tigers) and to transport them.
The Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) was commissioned by the emperor Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written in Persian by Abu'l Fazl between 1590 and 1596 and is thought to have been illustrated between about 1592 and 1594 by at least 49 different artists from Akbar's studio. After Akbar's death in 1605, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) and later that of Shah Jahan (r.1628-1658). The Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, the widow of Major-General John Clarke. He bought it in India while serving as Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862.
Bibliographic references
  • W. Staude, ‘Contribution a l’etude de Basawan’, Extrait de la Revue des Arts asiatiques, Paris: Les editions d’art et d’histoire, 1934, fig. 7. H. Beveridge (trs), The Akbar Nama of Abu-l-Fazl, Ess Ess Publications, Delhi 1977, vol. II, p. 226.
  • Swallow, Deborah: Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, 25 Years of the Nehru Gallery of Indian Art and the Nehru Trust, p. 91, no. 3.
Other number
99 - Inscription/original number
Collection
Accession number
IS.2:24-1896

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 createdOctober 22, 1998
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest