Painting
ca. 1610 - ca. 1620 (made)
| Place of origin |
This Mughal painting of an unknown European was probably painted in the first half of the reign of the emperor Jahangir (1605-1627). The Western elements of the man's clothes, and the style of his European sword, are broadly dateable to the second half of the 16th century, suggesting that the anonymous Mughal artist based his painting on a Western portrait. However, the loose, voluminous trousers are the kind worn by Europeans living in India and adapting their clothes to the climate, making any conclusions about the artist's inspiration tentative. The subject's overall appearance, and the colours of his clothes, are similar to another portrait of a European in the V&A, IM 386-1914.
The painting was bought from Mr Arthur Churchill in 1913 as a portrait of Sir Thomas Roe. Roe arrived in India in 1616 as the first official English ambassador to the Mughal court, but this painting bears no resemblance to contemporary Western portraits of him.
The painting was bought from Mr Arthur Churchill in 1913 as a portrait of Sir Thomas Roe. Roe arrived in India in 1616 as the first official English ambassador to the Mughal court, but this painting bears no resemblance to contemporary Western portraits of him.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, European man in landscape, opaque watercolour on paper, Mughal, ca. 1610-1620 |
| Physical description | One of two paintings, on either side of the same piece of paper, in opaque watercolour. On this side, a bearded man stands obliquely against a landscape, leaning on a long sword of European style, dressed in baggy trousers, white shirt with soft ruffle and open at the neck, European style jacket and black velvet cap. In the background are two hills with small figures climbing up the paths towards a shrine at left and a small town at right. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | On one side, a bearded man stands obliquely against a landscape, leaning on a long sword of European style, dressed in baggy trousers, white shirt with soft ruffle and open at the neck, European style jacket and black velvet cap. In the background are two hills with small figures climbing up the paths towards a shrine at left and a small town at right. |
| Style | |
| Credit line | Purchased from Arthur Churchill, Esq. |
| Object history | Bought from Mr Arthur Churchill, with other paintings (IM.7 to 16-1913) for £141. RP 1913/1031; Purchased from Arthur Churchill, Esq., 1,Selwood Terrace, South Kensington, S.W. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. RP 1913-947M |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This Mughal painting of an unknown European was probably painted in the first half of the reign of the emperor Jahangir (1605-1627). The Western elements of the man's clothes, and the style of his European sword, are broadly dateable to the second half of the 16th century, suggesting that the anonymous Mughal artist based his painting on a Western portrait. However, the loose, voluminous trousers are the kind worn by Europeans living in India and adapting their clothes to the climate, making any conclusions about the artist's inspiration tentative. The subject's overall appearance, and the colours of his clothes, are similar to another portrait of a European in the V&A, IM 386-1914. The painting was bought from Mr Arthur Churchill in 1913 as a portrait of Sir Thomas Roe. Roe arrived in India in 1616 as the first official English ambassador to the Mughal court, but this painting bears no resemblance to contemporary Western portraits of him. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.9-1913 |
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| Record created | August 21, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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