Private Collection (documented via past auction record)
Location History:
This painting entered the fine art market through an international auction house and is currently held in a private collection. It measures approximately 55.7 x 38.4 cm (21.9 x 15.1 in.).
The miniature painting of the 18th century titled Farrukh Siyyar hunting is an intriguing historical and political story told by the later Mughal court painter Aqil Khan. In the painting, Farrukh Siyyar, the Mughal emperor in the early 18th century, is depicted as a man hunting. The fact that this painting was painted long after emperor’s rule doesn’t lessen its importance as it attempts to glorify and immortalize the age of greatness and luxury of the Mughal Empire when it started to be doomed.
In the heart of the artwork Farrukh Siyyar is riding a white horse decorated in an ornate manner and is holding a falcon on a left hand gloved hand. The emperor wears an elegant court dress. Since Farrukh Siyyar hunting exists mainly as a part of rare historical manuscript albums and doesn’t have any independent publications dedicated to it, it can only be found in texts about Mughal art history. It should be noted that the artist Aqil Khan has demonstrated an excellent talent for capturing splendid textiles and the facial expressions of the ruler. That said, the emperor is surrounded by several royal servants on the ground with spears, bows, and hunting tools; hence, it becomes clear that the jungle expedition is rather well organized.
The setting of usuring hills and hunting grounds involves a combined palette of soft greens and ocher yellows that composes a huge sceneries under a peaceful and naturalistic sky. As stated by its physical definition as gouache with some golden additions, the palette is distinguished by bright and reflective metallic gold leaf. This gold is carefully utilized to embellish the royal horse textile, as well as to accentuate the details of armament and to beautify royal outfits so that the whole hunting scene can be perceived as a brilliant indication of royal lifestyle.
The artwork depicts gorgeous green lawns and hills of golden earth beneath a beautiful sky, giving an impressive feeling of vastness. On the upper right side, there is a piece of water in the distance with many birds, providing an active habitat for hunting purposes. Aqil Khan uses his solid lines and opaque gouach colors as well as brilliant gold details for the purpose of shining hunting equipment and clothing.
The artwork of Farrukh Siyyar cannot be studied without considering the work of Aqil Khan. The artwork exists mainly in the accounts of special collections rather than in traditional books. Navin Kumar is a book that researches changes in Mughal art. The book deals with Aqil Khan’s work as known for the skillful execution of official portraits and communication kinds of images that promoted the image of emperors during the decline of their authority.
Farrukhsiyyar hunting is a prominent example of late Mughal miniature art. The sceneries of hunting is a rather popular one. These were popular particularly because they were a sort of ways to legitimize the kingship of the Mughal sultan even after his death. The artist shows the emperor on a horse with a falcon on his left hand. Soldiers and servants surround his horse as they march towards the hunting ground. The emperor is cladded in fine clothes which are depicted in detail by the artist.
