Painting, Akbarnama, rejoicings on the birth of Akbar's second son, Murad, outline and painting by Bhura, portraits by Basawan, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1590-95

Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, depicts the rejoicings at the royal city of Fathpur (Fatehpur Sikri) on the birth of Akbar's second son, Mirza Murad, in 1570. it

Rejoicings at the royal city of Fathpur (Fatehpur Sikri) on the birth of Akbar's second son, Mirza Murad, in 1570. Musicians play in the lower left, women pour rosewater, play instruments, offer garlands and vessels on trays, while the baby and its mother are shown at top right with servants.

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

Composition and painting by Bhura, portraits by Basawan.
Attribution place is likely to be Delhi, Agra or Fatehpur Sikri.

This illustration from the Akbarnama depicts the celebrations at the royal city of Fathpur ('City of Victory', and later known as Fatehpur Sikri) after the birth of Akbar's second son, Murad, in 1570. The red inscription beneath the painting notes that the design of the composition and the application of paint were both done by the Mughal court artist Bhura, with portraits by the more renowned artist Basawan.
The Akbarnama was commissioned by the emperor Akbar 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 about 1592 and 1594 by at least 49 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, who bought it in India while serving as Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862.

IS.2:80-1896