Emperor Akbar travelling by boat from Delhi to Agra
| 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. |
Emperor Akbar Travelling by Boat from Delhi to Agra is a Mughal miniature from the Akbarnama, the official history of Emperor Akbar commissioned by the court historian Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak. Produced in the imperial atelier during the late 16th century, the painting records one of Akbar's royal journeys along the Yamuna River, emphasizing both historical documentation and imperial ideology. Beyond recording a journey, the painting conveys Akbar's authority over his empire. The emperor's composed posture and central placement symbolize stable governance, while the orderly procession of attendants reflects discipline and administrative efficiency. Rivers were essential routes of communication and commerce in the Mughal Empire, and the scene underscores the emperor's accessibility and active engagement with different regions of his realm.