Arjuna Battles Raja Tamradhvaja
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Watercolor |
| Current Location: | This folio is part of the illustrated Razmnama manuscript collection preserved in the British Library’s Mughal manuscript holdings. |
| Location History: | This painting was created in the Mughal imperial atelier as part of the illustrated Razmnama, a Persian translation of the Mahabharata commissioned during the reign of Emperor Akbar. It was produced around 1616–1617 under the patronage of ‘Abd al-Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, a prominent Mughal noble and military commander. The manuscript originally formed part of a royal workshop project that aimed to translate and illustrate important Sanskrit epics into Persian, reflecting Mughal interest in Indian literary and cultural traditions. Over time, the manuscript was dispersed, and individual folios entered different museum collections. Today, this specific folio is preserved in the Islamic Art collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. |
This miniature Mughal painting depicting Arjuna fighting against Raja Tamradhvaja is part of an illustrated manuscript known as the Razmnama, a Persian translation of the Indian epic Mahabharata. This work dates from the early 17th century Mughal period, circa 1616–1617 AD, when illuminated manuscripts were actively produced in imperial and sub-imperial workshops under elite patronage. This particular manuscript is attributed to Fazl, a Mughal artist who worked as a quasi-imperial painter for Mughal governors and aristocratic patrons. Fazl was part of an extensive network of trained artists influenced by Mughal workshops. His style reflects the Mughal tradition of miniature painting, blending Persian artistic techniques with Indian narrative themes. Artists like Fazl played an important role in producing illuminated manuscripts outside the empire’s main workshops and helped spread the Mughal painting style to regional centres. The manuscript itself was commissioned under the patronage of Abd al-Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, a prominent Mughal nobleman, military leader, and important patron of literature and the arts. He supported the translation and illustration of major Sanskrit epics into Persian, including the Mahabharata, which became the Razmnama. The painting portrays a dramatic battle scene in which Arjuna, one of the greatest heroes of the Mahabharata, confronts Raja Tamradhvaja. Arjuna is shown as the heroic central figure, symbolising courage, discipline, and divine guidance, while the opposing king represents a strong rival force. The scene is filled with soldiers, horses, weapons, and movement, creating a dense and energetic composition typical of Mughal narrative art. The artist Fazl uses fine detailing, vibrant mineral pigments, ink outlines, and gold highlights on paper to create depth and richness in his work. The careful arrangement of figures reflects the Mughal emphasis on storytelling, precision, and visual balance within miniature form. Today, this work of art survives as part of dispersed Razmnama manuscripts held in major museum collections and represents a beautiful fusion of Persian literary culture, Indian epic tradition, and the refined excellence of Mughal art.
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