Zu'lfiqar Khan
Painting
c. 1610 (made)
c. 1610 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Muhammad Beg, who had the title Zu'lfiqar Khan, was one of the faithful servants of the Mughal emperor He is identified in the inscription on the green ground at left, which also identifies the artist as Nanha. The lower inscription adds that Zu'lfiqar Khan was unequalled for his skills in archery, and was one of the emperor's faithful servants. He died in 1611. The painting must have been inherited from the emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) by his son Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658) when it was given new mounts for inclusion in an album. The very fine gold painted border on indigo ground is signed by the illuminator, Dowlat, in a minuscule inscription on the outer gold border framing the picture, at lower right.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Zu'lfiqar Khan (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, portrait of Zu'lfiqar Khan, by Nanha, opaque watercolour on paper, Mughal, c. 1610 with later borders |
| Physical description | Painting, opaque watercolour on paper, portrait of Zu'lfiqar Khan, a nobleman. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | A portrait of Zu'lfiqar Khan. |
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | shabih-e Zu'lfiqar Khan, amal-e Nanha Note the illumination is signed by Dowlat in the outer gold border framing the painting, lower left. The inscription identifying Zu'lfiqar Khan is in the handwriting of Shah Jahan. Translation likeness of Zu'lfiqar Khan, the work of Nanha |
| Object history | From the Minto album |
| Historical context | Formerly owned by Lord Minto who consigned it to auction in 1925; it is not known which Lord Minto originally acquired it. |
| Production | Mughal empire; the borders are later than the painting |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Muhammad Beg, who had the title Zu'lfiqar Khan, was one of the faithful servants of the Mughal emperor He is identified in the inscription on the green ground at left, which also identifies the artist as Nanha. The lower inscription adds that Zu'lfiqar Khan was unequalled for his skills in archery, and was one of the emperor's faithful servants. He died in 1611. The painting must have been inherited from the emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) by his son Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658) when it was given new mounts for inclusion in an album. The very fine gold painted border on indigo ground is signed by the illuminator, Dowlat, in a minuscule inscription on the outer gold border framing the picture, at lower right. |
| Bibliographic reference | Susan Stronge, Painting for the Mughal Emperor. The art of the book 1560-1650, V&A Publications, 2002, pl. 110, p. 144. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.24-1925 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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