The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, USA (Gallery 463, The Met Fifth Avenue)
Location History:
Crafted in the imperial workshops of the Mughal Emperor Akbar in India (1597–98), the folio remained in private hands for centuries before being gifted to The Metropolitan Museum of Art by Alexander Smith Cochran in 1913 (Accession Number: 13.228.27).
This bright Mughal miniature shows a part of the Khamsa, written by the famous Persian scholar Amir Khusrau Dihlavi. The picture zooms in on Alexander the Great who's not just a ruler who travelled far but a curious mind who wants to learn the truth about the world.
Alexander the Great wants to see what lies under the ocean. He builds a glass box for diving. The artist draws the moment Alexander the Great wearing clothes goes down into the rough grey waves, inside his glass box. Ropes hold the box to a group of boats above. A crew of helpers, sailors and watchers look down from the decks helping the descent and keeping an eye on everything. In the water surrounded by fish the journey is a moment of discovery. Alexander the Great’s science spirit meets the fact that we all're mortal.
The page was made in the 16th century at the royal workshops of Emperor Akbar. It shows a mix of art styles that is typical of the Mughal studio. Persian detail and movement meet ideas, seen in the far background and the rolling hills. At the time local South Asian art shines, with realistic people textile designs and ship shapes. It is a masterpiece of mixed stories.
I can see how realistic the figures look how the cloth patterns are careful and how the ships are drawn correctly. Alexander the Great’s adventure is told by a blend of cultures making the story feel both old and new.
Alexander is lowered into the sea is an animated miniature painting from the year 1597-1598 that is created by the Mughal Empire. This masterpiece of miniature painting depicts the legendary story about the diving expedition of Alexander the Great into the ocean within a diving bell made of glass. The scene unfolds on the wooden ship from where attendants, through the help of a winch system, lower the glass bell into the agitated water containing abundant marine life. Below the bell, an angel appears to the king to predict his death.
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By: Shreya Haldar
For me, this painting represents Alexander the Great not only as a powerful ruler but also as a person who is curious about the unknown. The scene of Alexander going deep into the sea inside a glass diving box shows his desire to discover things that were beyond the knowledge of ordinary people at that time. He is willing to take a risk simply to see and understand what exists beneath the surface of the ocean.I find the image of Alexander surrounded by water and fish particularly interesting. The dark, rough waves create a feeling of danger and uncertainty, while the glass box gives him a small sense of protection. The ropes connecting the box to the boats above also show that, although Alexander is the central figure, he depends on other people for his safety. This makes the scene feel more human rather than simply showing him as a great king.The painting also makes me think about the relationship between human curiosity and human limitations. Alexander wants to explore the unknown, but the dangerous ocean reminds us that human beings cannot completely control nature. His attempt to enter the sea can therefore be understood as a symbol of the human desire to push boundaries and discover the world, even when there are risks involved.Another important aspect of the artwork is the combination of different artistic traditions. The detailed Persian style can be seen in the careful composition and storytelling, while the realistic figures, clothing, ships and natural surroundings reflect the influence of South Asian artists working in the Mughal court. Because of this mixture, the painting feels like a meeting point between different cultures and artistic ideas.
