The royal procession of Shah Alam II proceeding to Delhi along the banks of the channels of the river Jumna and crossing a bridge of boats.
Painting
ca. 1775 (painted)
ca. 1775 (painted)
| Place of origin |
In this painting, the royal procession of the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II (r.1759-1806) is depicted making its return to Delhi, seen in the background, along the banks of the channels of the river Jumna and crossing a bridge of boats. The emperor's elephant is followed at a distance by elephants bearing the imperial standards, with the royal ladies behind these in a covered howdah, a palanquin, and other screened structures on bullock carts. The royal women are accompanied by female guards on horseback.
By now the Mughal emperor ruled only in name. In 1764 the British East India Company had defeated the Mughal army and its allied forces, and forced the emperor to grant the Company the right to collect revenue from the large and prosperous province of Bengal. They also insisted he reside in Allahabad, not the imperial capital. However, in 1772 Shah Alam II returned to Delhi under protection after an absence of twelve years, the scene depicted here. The style of the painting is similar to that of the V&A's Gentil Album (IS.25-1980), done in Faizabad in 1774.
By now the Mughal emperor ruled only in name. In 1764 the British East India Company had defeated the Mughal army and its allied forces, and forced the emperor to grant the Company the right to collect revenue from the large and prosperous province of Bengal. They also insisted he reside in Allahabad, not the imperial capital. However, in 1772 Shah Alam II returned to Delhi under protection after an absence of twelve years, the scene depicted here. The style of the painting is similar to that of the V&A's Gentil Album (IS.25-1980), done in Faizabad in 1774.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The royal procession of Shah Alam II proceeding to Delhi along the banks of the channels of the river Jumna and crossing a bridge of boats. |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour |
| Brief description | Painting, watercolour, procession of Shah Alam II to Delhi, Faizabad or Lucknow, ca.1775. |
| Physical description | A view of Delhi, with several of the buildings identified with numbers, stretches across the horizon; the Qutb Minar is on the left and the Salimgarh Fort on the right. The procession consists of the emperor on an elephant bearing the royal standards, an elephant carrying ladies in a covered howdah, and ladies in closed palanquins, accompanied by woman guards. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | (Inscribed at the top with numbers identifying various monuments in Delhi.) |
| Credit line | Purchased from Messrs L. Chaundy of Oxford Ltd., Albemarle Street, London. |
| Object history | Bought for £5 in 1922 from Messrs L. Chaundy of Oxford Ltd., Albemarle Street, London. Purchased from Messrs L. Chaundy of Oxford Ltd., Albemarle Street, London.. 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. 1922-3859 |
| Historical context | The sundial turbans of the Native Infantry detachments in the foreground suggest a date of ca. 1790, since they were abolished soon afterwards. [but the style of the painting is that of the c. 1774 Gentil Album: SS 29/07/2019]. Dalrymple and Sharma date it to c. 1776, and attribute it to Lucknow. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | In this painting, the royal procession of the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II (r.1759-1806) is depicted making its return to Delhi, seen in the background, along the banks of the channels of the river Jumna and crossing a bridge of boats. The emperor's elephant is followed at a distance by elephants bearing the imperial standards, with the royal ladies behind these in a covered howdah, a palanquin, and other screened structures on bullock carts. The royal women are accompanied by female guards on horseback. By now the Mughal emperor ruled only in name. In 1764 the British East India Company had defeated the Mughal army and its allied forces, and forced the emperor to grant the Company the right to collect revenue from the large and prosperous province of Bengal. They also insisted he reside in Allahabad, not the imperial capital. However, in 1772 Shah Alam II returned to Delhi under protection after an absence of twelve years, the scene depicted here. The style of the painting is similar to that of the V&A's Gentil Album (IS.25-1980), done in Faizabad in 1774. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.59-1922 |
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| Record created | January 14, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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