Princes of the House of Timur by Indian

This is the earliest known example of a Mughal painting, which has been described by J.

Details

Category:
Literary
Medium:
Gouache & gold on cotton Dimensions: 108.3 x 106.9cm
Acquired in:
1912
Presented by:
Anonymous through The Art Fund

M. Rogers as 'a variety of Islamic painting practised in India principally in the 16th and 17th centuries'. The painting is in colours and gold on fine cotton fabric. What has survived of the picture depicts a ruler seated in a garden pavilion and wearing Central Asian dress. He is flanked by two servants and faces a visitor. To either side of him are courtiers and nobles and, in the background, servants. The missing foreground probably depicted dancers and musicians performing a courtly entertainment. The central figure is believed to be Humayun (1508-56), the second Mughal Emperor; many of the heads were repainted to depict later Mughal rulers, creating a genealogical scene.

Venue details

British Museum Great Russell Street London WC1B 3DG 020 7323 8299 www.britishmuseum.org

Entry details

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