Akbar
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Watercolor |
| Current Location: | Victoria and Albert Museum in London, United Kingdom. |
| Location History: | The painting was initially created between 1590 and 1595 in the imperial Mughal workshops in Lahore, and it was then transferred to the royal libraries of Agra and Delhi under the rule of the consecutive emperors Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. With the empire’s fragmentation, the manuscript was incorporated into the Awadh kingdom’s prince’s collection (also known as Oudh). Subsequently, Major General John Clarke, a British colonial officer, purchased it between 1858 and 1862 and brought it to South London. It was then sold by his widow and became part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s South Asian collection in London, the United Kingdom, after being separated from its binding. Currently, the 116-page manuscript book is stored there under inventory number IS.2:92-1896. |
Akbar Hunting Black Buck with Trained Cheetahs (c. 1590–1595) is a remarkable Mughal miniature from the Akbarnama, illustrating the emperor’s participation in a royal hunt. Designed by La’l and painted by Sanwala, the composition demonstrates the collaborative practices of Akbar’s imperial atelier. Akbar appears mounted on a piebald horse in the upper-right corner, observing the hunting activities conducted by his attendants. Trained cheetahs pursue blackbucks across a rugged landscape filled with multicoloured rocks, trees, and vegetation. The elaborate arrangement of figures and animals creates movement and narrative depth, transforming the hunt into a spectacular visual event. Particularly significant is the depiction of the cheetahs and their specialised handling, reflecting Mughal expertise in animal training and royal hunting traditions. Beyond recreation, the scene symbolises imperial control over nature and the disciplined organisation of the court. Through its vibrant palette, meticulous detailing, and dynamic composition, the miniature celebrates Akbar’s authority while exemplifying the narrative sophistication of sixteenth-century Mughal painting.