Construction of the fort at Agra illustration from Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) ca. 1590-95 (made)
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Watercolor |
| Current Location: | V&A South Kensington |
| Location History: | It was originally created in the Mughal imperial atelier around 1590–1595 during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar as part of the illustrated manuscript of the Akbarnama (Book of Akbar). After Akbar’s death in 1605, the manuscript remained in the imperial Mughal library under his son Jahangir and was later inherited by Shah Jahan. During the colonial period, Major General John Clarke acquired the manuscript in India while serving as Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862. After Clarke’s death, the manuscript passed to his widow, Frances Clarke, of The Dingle, Sydenham Hill, London. The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased the manuscript from Frances Clarke in 1896, where it remains today in the South & South East Asia Collection and is currently displayed at V&A South Kensington. |
Miskina was one of the most famous painters in the imperial workshop of Emperor Akbar in the late sixteenth century. Known for his dynamic compositions, realistic and expressive characters and ability to portray movement Miskina was responsible for the creation of early Mughal painting's visual language. As a result of the fusion of Persian and newly developing Indian elements Miskina came up with a distinctive and innovative style that became the key characteristic of Mughal painting. Construction of Agra Fort is an example of Miskina's exceptional talent in portraying stories in paintings. Made for the illustrated Akbarnama this painting reflects large-scale constructions initiated by Akbar in the course of expanding the territory of the Mughal Empire. Filled with people, animals and their supervisors the composition is carefully structured to capture the dynamism of this ambitious enterprise. Through his depiction of a historical event Miskina emphasized Akbar's leadership and architectural creativity.
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