Courtly Splendour
Exploring images of powerful court scenes and ‘durbars’ from the collection (1700-1999)
The 'Durbar' defined
The noble court of a king or ruler where the king held all meetings and discussions about the state he ruled was called the durbar of the ruler. A durbar could be of a feudal state council for administering the affairs of a state, or a ceremonial gathering.
Powerful Durbars
The most famous durbars belonged to powerful emperors and kings in the course of human history. In the north of India, cities like Baroda, Gwalior, Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Agra, and the city of Lahore, in Pakistan have palaces and forts that have halls for durbar.
Mughal Durbar
The Mughal emperor Akbar had two halls—one for his ministers, and the other for the general public. They were called diwan-e-khas and diwan-e-aam respectively. Usually, durbar halls are lavishly decorated and reflected the power of the ruler.
South Indian Courts
In south of India, the Mysore Palace had a number of halls, like the Peacock Hall, which was used for marriage ceremonies. The Jaganmohan Palace shown here was used for durbar. The Durbar Hall in the Khilwat Mubarak, in Hyderabad, was the Durbar hall of the Asaf Jahis.
Imperial Durbars
Native rulers, the Marathas, Rajputs, Mughals, other Hindu or Muslim monarchies, even colonials received visitors in audience, conferred honours, conducted business in durbar. This durbar of King George V was at Delhi in 1911, a mass assembly of Indian rulers, by the British.
Native Indian Durbars
A durbar could be the executive council of a native state. Its membership was dual- the court's grandees, such as the vizier and major jagirdars (feudal landlords), who attended ceremonies but the real political affairs of state rested with an inner circle, the diwan.
The Salar Jung Museum Collection
Many durbars from history and mythology have been captured by artists in different media of different countries. Here Nawab Laiq Ali Khan, Salar Jung II (standing) is seen with courtiers.
Let us explore some court scenes from the collection at Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad !
Raja Dashrath's court (1700/1799)Salar Jung Museum
Raja Dasharath’s court
Court of King Dasharath from the Ramayana where he is appointing his successor as Rama, his son, a young prince. An ‘agnigunda’ altar is in the foreground. There are sages around him.
King Dasharath is with Rama, his son, a young prince is on his lap. Sage Vashisth his Guru, is seated on his left. His other sons, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna are seen sitting on the left of the sage.
Ram Darbar (1800/1825)Salar Jung Museum
Ram Durbar
The 'Ram Durbar' has Lord Rama and Devi Sita seated under a canopy on the throne. Two attendants are standing behind them, one holding a flywhisk. His brother Lakshmana is present, also the vanaras, Hanuman and Sugreeva who are very dear to him.
Chakravarti Raja Prithu and courtiers (1775/1799)Salar Jung Museum
Chakravarti Raja Prithu and Rajas
Raja Prithu urges other Rajas (kings) to ensure that the people of their kingdom worship Narayana and follow the path of dharma. It is an illustration to the fourth Skanda (chapter) of Bhagavata Purana; Pahadi painting from Kangra/Basohli dated to the late 18th century.
Court scene (1820/1820)Salar Jung Museum
Court scene
Rajput painting flourished from the end of 16th-century to the middle of the 19th-century. The subjects covered included court scenes of their rulers and their activities, depicting their power and prestige. Seen here is a Raja from Jodhpur with his court grandees, circa 1820.
Court scene (1828/1828)Salar Jung Museum
Court scene
A Raja from Kotah, Rajasthan with his court grandees. The Raja is enjoying a 'huqqa' as he discusses matters with his vizier, This miniature is from circa 1828.
The Raja discusses matters with his vizier.
Mysore durbar (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Mysore Durbar
An opulent and splendid court scene; a Raja and Rani, (the king and queen) from the Wodeyar family of rulers, seated on thrones attended by dignitaries & attendants. The Raja is the Maharaja of Mysore. This painting is dated to the 19th century.
The Maharaja of Mysore with courtiers around him.
Raja's court (1875/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Painted textile of a Raja’s court
A 'Phad' painting depicting scenes of royal life with four royal courtiers in front of a king. A war scene and court scene is depicted as well. The seated king is holding a lotus flower in his left hand and smelling its fragrance, the other has a dagger, from late 19th century.
The Raja and his courtiers
Court scene
A seated Raja from the Deccan, resting his right hand on a bolstered seat, while an attendant holds a flywhisk. His ministers are around him, having a discussion, a drawing dated to the 19th century.
Court scene of Amir Timur (1900/1925)Salar Jung Museum
Court Scene of Amir Timur
Amir Timur (r.1370-1405) is seated on a throne. Courtiers seated in front; other nobles standing behind him. Army and elephants in the foreground. Miniature painting is in Persian style, with inscriptions on panels, picnic and battle scenes in the margins, from the 20th century.
Amir Timur seaed on his throne under a blue canopy, a matching blue carpet is placed beneath the throne.
Court scene (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Court scene
A printed curtain depicting a court scene with Persian inscription. The Persian ruler is seated in the middle with grandees, attendants and others around him. The curtain depicts flowering plants, an animal, vessels and has broad foliate border around, dated to the 19th century.
The Persian ruler is seated in the middle with grandees.
Court scene
A porcelain antimony bottle with a court scene on one side. Inscription at the bottom. From the period of Emperor Kangxi of China, dated to the 17th/18th century.
Court scene (1913/1913)Salar Jung Museum
Court scene
Porcelain inscribed vase with handles, circa 1913; the body is painted to represent a court scene on one side, from the Republican period of Chinese history.
Mughal king in his court (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Mughal king in his court
A king, most probably Emperor Babur (r.1526 - 30) , seated on throne under a blue canopy. Two men seated before him. One man standing before addressing the king. Other men seen in the open yard. Six men and two horses before the gateway, Mughal School, from the 19th century.
Emperor Akbar's court (1900/1925)Salar Jung Museum
Court scene of Akbar
Emperor Akbar (r.1556 to 1605) seated in a pavilion holding a book in left hand and taking a wine cup served by an attendant. Two attendants on either side. A bearded man reading before him. Three noblemen sitting under a canopy, Mughal School, early 20th century.
Emperor Akbar with his courtiers in a pavillion.
Court scene of Emperor Jahangir (1775/1799)Salar Jung Museum
Court scene of Emperor Jahangir
A court scene of Jahangir (r.1605-27) seated on throne under a canopy. Three nobles standing before him, one of them with folded hands. Two nobles standing beside the steps, one of them with folded hands and the other holding a book, from Delhi School, dated to the 18th century.
Emperor Jahangir seated on his throne, under an ornate red-green canopy, in discussion with his courtiers. Strking decorative details in this Mughal miniature.
Emperor Jahangir seated on throne (1900/1925)Salar Jung Museum
Jahangir seated on his throne
Emperor Jahangir (r.1605 to 1627) seated on his throne holding a globe in his right hand and his left at his waist which a dagger. Six attendants standing behind him, floral and waka waka themed broad border, a Mughal painting from early 20th century.
Emperor Jahangir with his courtiers standing before him. The left border design has a waka waka plant depicting animal heads. 'Waka waka' is a mythical concept wherein plants shoots end in animal features.
Court scene of Emperor Shahjahan (1900/1999)Salar Jung Museum
Court scene of Emperor Shahjahan
Court scene showing Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r.1628 to 1658) seated in his court with his courtiers on either side. Shah Jahan is being presented something by a European. A Mughal School painting from the 20th century.
Emperor Shahjahan with courtiers, having a discussion.
Court scene of Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Court scene of Bahadur Shah Zafar
Water colour painting depicting the court scene of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar (r.1837–57). Five persons are standing on either side of the throne, of them, two are Britishers, a modern Indian painting, dated to the 19th century.
Court scene of Maharaja Jagat Singh (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Court scene of Maharaja Jagat Singh
Maharaj Jagat Singh ( r.1803 -1818) seated on his royal seat holding a ‘huqqa’ pipe (hubble- bubble) in his left hand and a rosary in his right. Four attendants standing behind him. Courtiers around him. A Rajasthani miniature, from the 19th century.
Maharaja Jagat Singh in royal attire and jewellery, meeting his courtiers. A cistern in a garden can be seen from an open window.
Royal Italian Court scene (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Royal Italian Court scene
One hemisphere and two quarter spheres each with inside carving of human figures depicting a royal court scene from Italy, made in ivory, dated to the 19th century.
Text and Curation : Soma Ghosh
Photography : M. Krishnamurthy and Bahadur Ali
Research Assistance : Dinesh Singh and E. Rajesh
Project Direction - Dr. A. Nagender Reddy, Director, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India.
References –
1. https://museumsofindia.gov.in/repository (accessed 25.09.2023)
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajput_painting (accessed 26.09.2023)
3. https://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/persia/(accessed 26.09.2023)
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Clan_Court/(accessed 26.09.2023)
