Mu'nim Khan and Khan Zaman thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Mu'nim Khan and Khan Zaman

Painting
ca. 1590-95 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This illustration to the Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) shows an interview that took place in a boat on the River Ganges in north-east India in December 1565 between Mu’nim Khan, Governor of Kabul, and Khan Zaman, who was prime minister to the Mughal emperor Akbar (r.1556–1605). The composition was designed by the Mughal court artist Kesav the Elder, and the painting was done by Banwali the Younger.

The Akbarnama was commissioned by Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written in Persian by his court historian and biographer, Abu’l Fazl, between 1590 and 1596, and the V&A’s partial copy of the manuscript is thought to have been illustrated between about 1592 and 1595. This is thought to be the earliest illustrated version of the text, and drew upon the expertise of some of the best royal artists of the time. Many of these are listed by Abu’l Fazl in the third volume of the text, the A’in-i Akbari, and some of these names appear in the V&A illustrations, written in red ink beneath the pictures, showing that this was a royal copy made for Akbar himself. After his death, the manuscript remained in the library of his son Jahangir, from whom it was inherited by Shah Jahan.

The V&A purchased the manuscript in 1896 from Frances Clarke, the widow of Major General John Clarke, who bought it in India while serving as Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMu'nim Khan and Khan Zaman (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Brief description
Painting, Akbarnama,interview between Mu'nim Khan and Khan Zaman in a Boat on the Ganges, outline by Kesu the Elder, painting Banwali the Younger, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1590-95
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, an interview between Munim Khan (Governor of Kabul) and 'Ali Quli Khan (Khan Khanan i.e. Akbar's Prime Mininster) in a boat on the Ganges.
Dimensions
  • Height: 32.8cm
  • Width: 19cm
Content description
An interview between Munim Khan (Governor of Kabul) and 'Ali Quli Khan (Khan Khanan i.e. Akbar's Prime Mininster) in a boat on the Ganges.
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
(The contemporary Persian inscriptions in red ink beneath the painting name the artists.)
Translation
'composition by Kesav/work [= painting] by Banwali the Younger'
Transliteration
'Tarh Kesav/Amal Banwali Khord'
Credit line
Purchased from Mrs. Clarke, The Dingle, Sydenham Hill, S. E
Object history
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 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 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 name the artists.
Production
Outline composed by Kesav the Elder, colours and details painted by Banwali the Younger.
Subjects depicted
Association
Literary referenceAkbarnama
Summary
This illustration to the Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) shows an interview that took place in a boat on the River Ganges in north-east India in December 1565 between Mu’nim Khan, Governor of Kabul, and Khan Zaman, who was prime minister to the Mughal emperor Akbar (r.1556–1605). The composition was designed by the Mughal court artist Kesav the Elder, and the painting was done by Banwali the Younger.

The Akbarnama was commissioned by Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written in Persian by his court historian and biographer, Abu’l Fazl, between 1590 and 1596, and the V&A’s partial copy of the manuscript is thought to have been illustrated between about 1592 and 1595. This is thought to be the earliest illustrated version of the text, and drew upon the expertise of some of the best royal artists of the time. Many of these are listed by Abu’l Fazl in the third volume of the text, the A’in-i Akbari, and some of these names appear in the V&A illustrations, written in red ink beneath the pictures, showing that this was a royal copy made for Akbar himself. After his death, the manuscript remained in the library of his son Jahangir, from whom it was inherited by Shah Jahan.

The V&A purchased the manuscript in 1896 from Frances Clarke, the widow of Major General John Clarke, who bought it in India while serving as Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862.
Other number
131 - inscription/original number
Collection
Accession number
IS.2:48-1896

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdNovember 16, 1998
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest