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Bahadur Shah I

Painting
ca. 1710 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Mughal Empire (made)

Bahadur Shah I was the Mughal emperor from 1707-1712. In this painting, dating probably to about 1712, he is depicted by the unknown artist in a way that differs considerably from that in which Mughal portrait subjects had hitherto been shown, and which relates more to European models. The focus here narrows and attention is concentrated on his finely-drawn face.

Object details

Categories
Paintings
Royalty
Portraits
Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project
Object type
Painting
TitleBahadur Shah I (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Opaque Watercolour
Gold
Paper
Painted
Brief description
Painting, Bahadur Shah I, ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1710
Physical description
Painting, in ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Bahadur Shah I (1707-1712) is depicted in a way that differs considerably from that in which portrait subjects had hitherto been shown, and which relates rather to European models. The focus here narrows and attention is concentrated on his finely-drawn face. The emperor is shown in profile to the right, clad in a purple robe diapered in gold with rows of small floral sprigs and scrolling stems.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28cm
  • Width: 18.15cm
Content description
Portrait of Bahadur Shah I.
Style
Mughal
Credit line
Purchased from Messrs Robert Riviere and Son, 29-33 Heddon Street, Regent Street, W.1
Object history
Purchased from Messrs Robert Riviere and Son, 29-33 Heddon Street, Regent Street, W.1. 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.

R.P. 1922-2126
Subjects depicted
Emperor
Bahadur Shah I
Summary
Bahadur Shah I was the Mughal emperor from 1707-1712. In this painting, dating probably to about 1712, he is depicted by the unknown artist in a way that differs considerably from that in which Mughal portrait subjects had hitherto been shown, and which relates more to European models. The focus here narrows and attention is concentrated on his finely-drawn face.
Bibliographic references
  • Swallow, Deborah and John Guy eds. Arts of India: 1550-1900. text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : V&A Publications, 1990. 240 p., ill. ISBN 1851770224, p.107, pl.89. Illustrated in Munis D. Faruqui, The Princes of the Mughal Empire, 1504-1719, Cambridge University Press (paperback edition), 2015, p. 304, in a section on the prince's relations with Alamgir.
  • T.Koezuka,ed; RC,TK,SS, catalogue; intro DS&TK; The Arts of the Indian Courts. Osaka 1993. No.14.
  • Swallow, D., Stronge, S., Crill, R., Koezuka, T., editor and translator, "The Art of the Indian Courts. Miniature Painting and Decorative Arts", Victoria & Albert Museum and NHK Kinki Media Plan, 1993. p. 40, cat. no. 14
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IM.36-1922

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O15502/bahadur-shah-i-painting-unknown/
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