This page of the Akbarnama depicts a battle scene in which bullocks are dragging cannons uphill during the siege of Ranthambhor Fort, Rajasthan in 1568. See IS.2:74 and IS.2:76 for other paintings of this battle.
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 bullocks dragging cannons uphill during the siege of Ranthambhor. The bullocks are being driven up a steep incline running diagonally from bottom left to the middle of the page at right. Cannons are firing from the cliff at top left, directed by the Mughal general at top right.
Place of Origin
India (north, possibly, made)
Pakistan (possibly, made)
Date
1590-1595 (painted)
Artist/maker
Miskina (composition, artist)
Paras (colours and details, artist)
Materials and Techniques
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Marks and inscriptions
tarh Miskina
amal Paras Composition by Miskina
Painted by Paras
Dimensions
Height: 37.5 cm page, Width: 25 cm page
Object history note
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. 1590 and 1594 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 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.
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
Bullocks dragging siege-guns up hill during Akbar's attack on Ranthambhor Fort, Rajasthan, in1568. Painting from the Akbarnama, ca.1590-1595.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Geeti Sen, Paintings from the AKbar Nama, 1984, p. 120, pl. 52, detail pl. 53, p. 122.
The Indian Heritage; Court Life and Arts under Mughal Rule: V&A publication, 1982, ISBN 0906969263, p.33, no.27. (Andrew Topsfield)
Associated names
Fazl, Abu'l
Production Note
Composition by Miskina, colours and details painted by Paras.
Attribution place is likely to be Delhi, Agra or Fatehpur Sikri.
Materials
Paper; Gold
Techniques
Painting; Contour drawing
Subjects depicted
Rajasthan
Categories
Paintings
Collection code
SSEA
