Kublai Khan and His Empress Enthroned, from a Jami al-Twarikh (or Chingiznama)

Maker(s)
Author: Jami (died 1492)
Historical period(s)
Mughal dynasty, Reign of Akbar, 1596
Movement
Mughal Court
School
Mughal School
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (painting): 35.2 × 22.1 cm (13 7/8 × 8 11/16 in)
Geography
India
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1954.31
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Manuscript folio

Keywords
emperor, empress, India, Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), Reign of Akbar (1556 - 1605), throne
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

This painting from the era of the Mughal emperor Akbar (reigned 1556-1605) probably belongs to a manuscript of the history of Genghis Khan, from whom the Mughals claimed descent.

Kesu Das or Kesu Kalan was among Akbar's leading artists and was known for his adaptations of European prints, an interest that is evident in the perspectival treatment of the architecture seen in the background. The oval shapes and pronounced modeling of the faces are typical of Kesu Das's portraits.

Published References
  • Marjorie Wall Bingham. An Age of Empires, 1200-1750. Oxford and New York, 2005. p. 36.
  • Milo Cleveland Beach. The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court. Exh. cat. Washington, 1981. cat. 11, pp. 52, 100.
  • Milo Cleveland Beach. The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court., 2nd ed. Washington and Ahmedabad, India, 2012. cat. 12, pp. 81-2.
Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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