Khan-i Kilan
Painting
ca. 1590-95 (made)
ca. 1590-95 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This painting from the Akbarnama depicts the wounding of Khan-i Kilan by a Rajput during his march to Gujarat and is by Miskina (whose name is also written as "Miskin" in the Akbarnama) and Sarwan. The incident took place in 1572 as the Mughal army moved west in a major campaign against the sultanate of Gujarat. On the way, envoys of the chief of Sirohi were received by the Mughal general, Khan-i Kalan. As they were about to depart, one of them suddenly lunged forward and stabbed the general. In retaliation, Khan-i Kalan's companions immediately killed the attacker and others who were with him. The incident made Akbar decide to take personal command of a force to crush the rebellion in Sirohi.
The Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) was commissioned by the emperor in 1598 as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written by his court historian and biographer Abu'l Fazl, and was substantially completed by 1596. The illustrations were being painted as the historian drafted and rewrote his text by at least forty-nine different artists from Akbar's ketabkhana, or 'House of Books', where manuscripts were stored as well as created. After Akbar's death in 1605, the incomplete manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir (r. 1605-1627), who recorded his possession on the flyleaf. The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, the widow of Major General John Clarke, an official who had been the Commissioner in Oudh province between 1858 and 1862.
The Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) was commissioned by the emperor in 1598 as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written by his court historian and biographer Abu'l Fazl, and was substantially completed by 1596. The illustrations were being painted as the historian drafted and rewrote his text by at least forty-nine different artists from Akbar's ketabkhana, or 'House of Books', where manuscripts were stored as well as created. After Akbar's death in 1605, the incomplete manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir (r. 1605-1627), who recorded his possession on the flyleaf. The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, the widow of Major General John Clarke, an official who had been the Commissioner in Oudh province between 1858 and 1862.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Khan-i Kilan (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
Brief description | Painting, Akbarnama, wounding of Khan Kilan, outline by Miskin, painting by Sarwan, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1590-95 |
Physical description | Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, depicts the wounding of Khan Kilan by a Rajput, near Sirohi, during his march to Gujarat in 1573. The image is overlaid by a band of text extending from the lower right hand margin of the painting. |
Dimensions |
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Content description | The wounding of Khan Kilan by a Rajput during his march to Gujarat. |
Styles | |
Marks and inscriptions | (Contemporary librarian's attribution in Persian written beneath the image at the bottom of the page in red ink.)
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Gallery label | THE WOUNDING OF KHAN-I KALAN
Illustration to the Akbarnama
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Mughal, composition
by Miskina, painted by Sarwan
c. 1590-95
IS.2:88-1896
In 1572, Akbar’s general Khan-i Kalan led the Mughal army to attack the western sultanate of Gujarat. On the way, he received the envoys
of a minor ruler who claimed to support Akbar but was secretly plotting rebellion. As the envoys left, one of them stabbed the general. The Mughals immediately killed him and some of his companions. Miskina worked on many of Akbar’s most important illustrated manuscripts.(27/9/2013) |
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 the royal ketabkhana, or House of Books. After Akbar's death, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir. 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. The V&A text is thought to be part of 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 | Outline picture composed by Miskina, colours and details painted by Sarwan. |
Subject depicted | |
Association | |
Literary reference | Akbarnama |
Summary | This painting from the Akbarnama depicts the wounding of Khan-i Kilan by a Rajput during his march to Gujarat and is by Miskina (whose name is also written as "Miskin" in the Akbarnama) and Sarwan. The incident took place in 1572 as the Mughal army moved west in a major campaign against the sultanate of Gujarat. On the way, envoys of the chief of Sirohi were received by the Mughal general, Khan-i Kalan. As they were about to depart, one of them suddenly lunged forward and stabbed the general. In retaliation, Khan-i Kalan's companions immediately killed the attacker and others who were with him. The incident made Akbar decide to take personal command of a force to crush the rebellion in Sirohi. The Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) was commissioned by the emperor in 1598 as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written by his court historian and biographer Abu'l Fazl, and was substantially completed by 1596. The illustrations were being painted as the historian drafted and rewrote his text by at least forty-nine different artists from Akbar's ketabkhana, or 'House of Books', where manuscripts were stored as well as created. After Akbar's death in 1605, the incomplete manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir (r. 1605-1627), who recorded his possession on the flyleaf. The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, the widow of Major General John Clarke, an official who had been the Commissioner in Oudh province between 1858 and 1862. |
Other number | 178 - inscription/original number |
Collection | |
Accession number | IS.2:88-1896 |
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Record created | November 6, 1998 |
Record URL |
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