Painting, Akbarnama, purification of the Kukur Talao, outline by Kesav, painting by Bhagwan, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1590-95

Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, left side of double picture (right side is IS 2:82-1896). The cleansing of a water tank while Akbar watches from his horse. His servants stand behind him, holding emblems of royalty.

The cleansing of a water tank while Akbar watches from his horse. His servants stand behind him, holding emblems of royalty.

Purchased from Mrs. Clarke, The Dingle, Sydenham Hill, S. E

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 c. 1592 and 1595 by at least forty-nine 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 the widow of Major General Clarke, an official who had been the Commissioner in Oudh province 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 inscriptions in red ink on the bottom of the paintings refer to the artists and indicate that this was a royal copy.

Outline painted by Kesav Kalan, colours and details painted by Bhagwan.
Attribution place is likely to be Delhi, Agra or Fatehpur Sikri.

This illustration to the Akbarnama depicts Akbar on horseback,watching the cleansing and purification of Tukar Talao, the local water tank, with his attendants. It is the left-hand side of a double page illustration, the right side (IS.2:82), shows the cleaning process with a fortified city in the background.

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.

IS.2:83-1896