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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1972.29
Title
Portrait of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir (painting, recto; calligraphy, verso), folio from a manuscript
Classification
Manuscripts
Work Type
manuscript folio
Date
17th century
Places
Creation Place: South Asia, India
Period
Mughal period
Culture
Mughal
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/216457

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
27.3 x 17.2 cm (10 3/4 x 6 3/4 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Mrs. Thomas Lyman
Accession Year
1972
Object Number
1972.29
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
The recto of this folio features a full length portrait of the Mughal emperor Jahangir in profile. He wears a cream colored shirt and orange trousers. A white translucent jama (robe) covers his ensemble. It is cinched at the waist with a purple sash that has decorative gold ends with flower patterns. He wears blue slippers and a bright yellow turban that is decorated with a strand of small pearls and spinels. He wears a long pearl necklace. A large white falcon rests upon his gloved, right hand. Surrounding the emperor are various blooming flowers, including irises. The painting is set within multiple borders enclosed by a margin of blue paper decorated with gold flowers, plants, trees, and animals, such as deer, rabbits, wolves, and birds. The outermost border is made of cream-colored paper decorated with a simple patterned gold design.
The verso features ten cloud-like cartouches of various sizes that contain Persian prose written in black ink and nasta‘liq script. The script is written on cream-colored paper with gold flowers and leaves. The cartouches are set against a gold gilt background. Three borders frame the gold background, from the innermost to the outermost: a thin cream-colored border with gold flowers and leaves; a thicker cream-colored border with large gold flowers and leaves; and then a thin blue border with gold flowers and leaves.

Verification Level

This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu