Akbar tiger-hunting near Narwar (left half)
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Gouache |
| Current Location: | Victoria and Albert Museum, London (IS.2:18-1896) |
| Location History: | This Akbarnama folio (ca. 1590-95) shows an incident from 1561, when a tigress attacked Akbar's hunting party near Narwar. In this left half of a double-page scene, his companions kill the cubs she was protecting. Basawan composed the scene and Sarwan painted it in opaque watercolour and gold on paper. The hunt displays the emperor's courage and royal power. It is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (IS.2:18-1896). |
Basawan and Sarwan’s Akbar (c. 1590–1595) for the Akbarnama depicts a tense moment from one of Akbar’s hunting expeditions near Narwar. Akbar has just been attacked by a tigress, and here, in this half of the double page, his companions are shown dealing with her cubs, while the emperor appears on the adjoining page. What’s interesting about the scene is the way the artists have made a short incident in the imperial chronicle into something full of movement and emotion. The animals and figures are closely packed, so the encounter seems sudden and dangerous. But at the same time the careful details of the landscape and the clothing of the figures anchor the scene within the context of the Mughal court. But the significance of Basawan as designer is particularly marked, since he was known for his powerful compositions and his interest in naturalistic detail. The painting also reminds us that the Akbarnama was not only a record of events. These images helped to form the memory of Akbar’s life and deeds. The king remains the story’s focus even in a hunting scene; the action around him serves his presence and authority.