Image source: collections.vam.ac.uk
Akbar assists in capturing a Cheetah (circa. 1590-1595)
Artist:Narayan
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Watercolor |
| Current Location: | Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London |
| Location History: | 16th Century (Mughal Royal Library): The Akbarnama manuscript was originally kept in the imperial studio for Emperor Akbar himself. It was later inherited and kept in the libraries of his successors, Emperor Jahangir and Shah Jahan.19th Century (India): The manuscript was later acquired by Major General John Clarke (who served as the Commissioner in Oudh province between 1858 and 1862) while he was in India.1896 to Present (London): Following General Clarke's passing, his widow, Mrs. Frances Clarke, sold the manuscript to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1896, where it has remained ever since |
The artwork is a beautiful display of the affair of hunting under Akbar. The pomp, procession, and crowd displays how grand and important hunts were for the imperial imagery of the Mughal emperors. The scene itself conveys Akbar’s bravery and skill, as he calmly pins down the live cheetah to be captured and taken. Cheetahs have a strong cultural legacy in India, and were often kept by Indian nobility. They were often kept as hunting companions by royalty, including the Mughals, hence necessitating them being captured alive. The trapping of sub-adult cheetahs, however, was a major cause of the endangerment and eventual extinction of the species.
Information Compiled by
Indira Tiwari