Painting, Akbarnama, Akbar's victorious return to Fatehpur Sikri, outline by Kesav the Elder, painting Jagjivan, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1590-95

Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, left hand side of double page, forming a pair with IS.2:110-1896. Depicts the rejoicings at Akbar's return to Fatehpur Sikri following his victory in the Gujarat. A pair of elephants can be seen in the foreground of the image. Towards the back of the picture, two elephants form a triumphal archway over a door. The image is overlaid by a band of text extending from the right hand margin.

The rejoicings at Akbar's return to Fatehpur Sikri following his victory in the Gujarat. A pair of elephants can be seen in the foreground of the image. Towards the back of the picture, two elephants form a triumphal archway over a door.

Purchased from Mrs. Clarke, The Dingle, Sydenham Hill, S. E

The Akbarnama, or "Book of Akbar", was commissioned by the emperor Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written by 1590 and 1596 and is thought to have been illustrated between ca. 1592 and 1594 by at least forty-nine different artists from Akbar's studio. After Akbar's death in 1605, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir (r.1605-1627) and later Shah Jahan (r.1628-1658). The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs. Frances Clarke, the widow of Major General John Clarke, an official who had been the Commissioner in Oudh province between 1858 and 1862.

Historical significance: It is thought to be the first illustrated copy of the Akbarnama. It drew upon the expertise of some of the best royal painters of the time, many of whom receive special mention by Abu'l Fazl in the A'in-i-Akbari, the third volume of the Akbarnama. The inscriptions in red ink on the bottom of the paintings refer to the artists and indicate that this was a royal copy.

Purchased from Mrs. Clarke, The Dingle, Sydenham Hill, S. E. 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.

Registered Papers: 85488/95

Composed by Kesav Kalan, painted by Jagjivan.

This painting by Kesav Kalan and Jagjivan is an illustration to the Akbarnama, and is the left side of a double page composition (the right half is IS.2:110-1896). It depicts the rejoicings at Akbar's return to Fatehpur Sikri following his victory in the Gujarat.
The Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) was commissioned by the emperor as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written by his court historian and biographer Abu'l Fazl between 1590 and 1596 and is thought to have been illustrated between c. 1592 and 1594 by at least forty-nine different artists from Akbar's studio. After Akbar's death in 1605, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir (r. 1605-27) and later Shah Jahan (r. 1628-58). The Museum purchased it in 1896 from the widow of Major General John Clarke. He had been Commissioner of Oudh, India, between 1858 and 1862. It is thought to be the earliest illustrated copy of the Akbarnama. It drew upon the expertise of some of the best royal painters of the time, many of whom receive special mention by Abu'l Fazl in the third volume of the Akbarnama, the A'in-i-Akbari. The inscriptions in red ink on the bottom of the paintings name the artists.

IS.2:111-1896