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Not currently on display at the V&A

Shah Alam II

Painting
ca. 1770 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This painting portrays the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II (r.1759-1806) and princes in darbar. The strict hierarchy of the Mughal court is represented by the placement of the figures in relation to the ruler. Shah Alam is seated on a golden throne, with a small parasol above and a nimbus, or halo, encircling his head. These are all symbols of his royal status. The ruler's ministers and courtiers surround him and three princes face the throne to the right. Visitors to the court are depicted on the lower level, outside the pavilion, indicating their secondary status. The architecture is richly decorated with marble inlay and intricate carpets cover the floor.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleShah Alam II (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Brief description
Painting, Shah Alam II and princes, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1770
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, depicting Shah Alam II and princes, holding a darbar (court) at Delhi around 1770. He is seated on a golden throne and facing to the right within a pillared diwan. Before him stands a green-clad minister, and around him and in the foreground are groups of courtiers. Above and below the painting are four lines of verse.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16.5cm (Image size )
  • Width: 13.7cm (Image size )
  • Height: 286mm (Page size )
  • Width: 212mm (Page size )
Content description
Shah Alam II and princes, holding a durbar (court) at Delhi around 1770. He is seated on a golden throne and facing to the right witnin a pillared diwan. Before him stands a green-clad minister, and around him and in the foreground are groups of courtiers. Above and below the painting are four lines of verse.
Style
Credit line
Purchased from Arhur Churchill, Esq., 10 Dover Street, W
Object history
Bought from the London dealer Arthur Churchill in 1922.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This painting portrays the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II (r.1759-1806) and princes in darbar. The strict hierarchy of the Mughal court is represented by the placement of the figures in relation to the ruler. Shah Alam is seated on a golden throne, with a small parasol above and a nimbus, or halo, encircling his head. These are all symbols of his royal status. The ruler's ministers and courtiers surround him and three princes face the throne to the right. Visitors to the court are depicted on the lower level, outside the pavilion, indicating their secondary status. The architecture is richly decorated with marble inlay and intricate carpets cover the floor.
Bibliographic reference
Jackson, Anna and Ji Wei (eds.) with Rosemary Crill, Ainsley M. Cameron and Nicholas Barnard, compiled by the Palace Museum, translated by Yuan Hong, Qi Yue and Liu Ran. The Splendour of India' Royal Courts : Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Beijing: the Forbidden City Publishing House, 2013. Text in English and Chinese. ISBN 9787513403917. pps. 30 and 31
Collection
Accession number
IM.81-1922

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Record createdApril 30, 2008
Record URL
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