Interview between the royal emissary Mir Muizzu'l Mulk and the rebel Bahadur Khan
- Object:
- Place of origin:
India (north, possibly, made)
Pakistan (possibly, made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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This image from the Akbarnama depicts an interview between the royal Mughal emissary Mir Muiz al-Mulk and the rebel Bahadur Khan. Seated figures are shown in a tiled royal pavilion under a chenar tree.
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
Depicts an interview between the royal emissary Mir Muiz al-Mulk and the rebel Bahadur Khan. Seated figures are shown in a tiled royal pavilion under a chenar tree.
Place of Origin
India (north, possibly, made)
Pakistan (possibly, made)
Date
1590-1595 (painted)
Artist/maker
Farrokh (Beg) (artist)
Materials and Techniques
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Marks and inscriptions
amal Farrukh Beg Work of Farrokh Beg
Dimensions
Height: 27.2 cm painting, Width: 17.2 cm painting
Object history note
The Akbarnama was commissioned by the emperor Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign in 1589 and written in Persian by Abu'l Fazl between 1590 and 1596. The illustrations were done as the author wrote and revised his work and were completed by 1595.After Akbar's death, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jehangir. The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, the widow of Major General Clarke, who had bought it while serving as Commissioner of Oudh in 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. The inscriptions in red ink on the bottom of the paintings refer to the artists and indicate that this was a royal copy.
Descriptive line
An Interview between the royal emissary Mir Muizzu'l Mulk and the rebel Bahadur Khan. 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. 28, p. 44.
Associated names
Fazl, Abu'l
Production Note
Composed and painted by Farrokh Beg.
Attribution place is likely to be Delhi, Agra or Fatehpur Sikri.
Materials
Paper; Gold
Techniques
Painting; Contour drawing
Subjects depicted
Khan, Bahadur
Collection code
SSEA
