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Akbar visits the tomb of Khwajah Mu'in ad-Din Chishti at Ajmer
Basawan1590-1595 (painted) - 1595
The Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
Akbar visits the shrine of Khwajah Mu'in ad-Din Chishti at Ajmer. Painting from the Akbarnama, ca. 1590-1595.
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Details
- Title: Akbar visits the tomb of Khwajah Mu'in ad-Din Chishti at Ajmer
- Date Created: 1590-1595 (painted) - 1595
- Location Created: India, Asia
- Type: Painting
- External Link: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O9409
- artist: Basawan
- Subjects Depicted: Ajmer; Akbar; shrines
- Place Part Of: Asia
- More Information: This illustration from the Akbarnama shows Akbar on pilgrimage visiting the tomb of Mu'in ad-Din Chishti at Ajmer in 1562. It is the work of Basawan and Ikhlas, who were responsible for the composition and colouring respectively, while Nanha painted the faces of the most important figures, including, presumably, that of the emperor, seen praying at the entrance to the tomb. The lower part of the picture depicts the distribution of money and food to the poor. 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.
- Materials and Techniques: Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
- Dimensions: Height: 32.8 cm painting, Width: 20.1 cm painting
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