Battle of Sarnal in Gujarat
- Object:
- Place of origin:
India (north, possibly, made)
Pakistan (possibly, made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
La'l (outline, artist)
Babu Naqqash (colours and details, artist)
- Materials and Techniques:
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Download image
This is the right-hand side of a double-page image from the Akbarnama depicting Akbar directing Mughal forces during the battle of Sarnal, Gujarat, in 1572. It shows Akbar on an armoured horse at the centre of the composition, with his troops ranged behind him in an arid landscape with low hills and cactus bushes. The other half of the image is IS.2:107-1896.
The Akbarnama was commissioned by the emperor Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written by his court historian and biographer 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 Shah Jahan (r.1628-1658). The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, the widow of Major-General John Clarke, who bought it in India while serving as Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862.
Physical description
This is the right side of a double picture of which the left side is IS.2:107-1896. It depicts the battle of Sarnal in Gujarat in 1572. Mughal forces led by Akbar, riding an armour-clad horse and shown in the centre of the picture, ride across a desert landscape with cactuses sprouting between low hillocks. Akbar's horsemen are lined up from top to bottom of the page at right, and fend off a single horseman at left.
Place of Origin
India (north, possibly, made)
Pakistan (possibly, made)
Date
1590-1595 (painted)
Artist/maker
La'l (outline, artist)
Babu Naqqash (colours and details, artist)
Materials and Techniques
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Marks and inscriptions
Tarh La'l
amal Babu Naqqash Composition by La'l
Painting by Babu Naqqash
Dimensions
Height: 31.8 cm painting, Width: 18.8 cm painting
Object history note
The Akbarnama was commissioned by the emperor Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign in 1589 and was written by Abu'l Fazl who completed his work in 1596. The illustrations were being painted as Abu'l Fazl wrote and revised the book.After Akbar's death, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir. The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, the widow of Major-General John Clarke, who bought it while serving as Commissioner of Oudh, India between 1858 and 1862.
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 third book of the Akbarnama.
Descriptive line
Battle of Sarnal in Gujarat. Painting from the Akbarnama, ca.1590-1595.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Susan Stronge, Painting for the Mughal Emperor. The Art of the Book 1560-1650, V&A Publications, 2002, pl. 36, p. 54.
Associated names
Fazl, Abu'l
Production Note
Outline picture composed by La'l, colours and details painted by Babu Naqqash.
Attribution place is likely to be Delhi, Agra or Fatehpur Sikri.
Materials
Paper; Gold; Opaque watercolour
Techniques
Painting; Contour drawing
Subjects depicted
Akbar
Collection code
SSEA
