Image source: collections.vam.ac.uk
Emperor Akbar travelling by boat from Delhi to Agra
Artist:Tulsi
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Gouache |
| Current Location: | Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom (Museum number: IS.2:48-1896) |
| Location History: | Following its completion in the late 16th century, the folio was kept securely inside the imperial library of Emperor Akbar. Upon his death in 1605, it was inherited by his son, Emperor Jahangir, and subsequently passed into the hands of Emperor Shah Jahan. Centuries later, amidst the fragmentation of the Mughal holdings, the folio was acquired by Major-General John Clarke during his service as the Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862. After his passing, his widow, Mrs. Frances Clarke, sold the historical manuscript piece to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1896. |
The above given artwork is a masterpiece painted by Tulsi, one of the most renowned court painters of Mughal empire. It presents one of the finest examples of Mughal paintings and reflects how Akbar wished himself to be seen as an emperor. The painting shows use of brilliant colours, smooth brushstrokes and intricate detailing in setting of the environment, attires and aesthetics. Also, it is one of the lesser seen paintings of Mughal emperors and their contingents traveling via waterways, as despite having a grand subcontinental empire, the Mughal empire is not usually associated with existence of a navy, just a flotilla of boats.
Information Compiled by
Ishita Garg