An artwork depicting two successive Mughal emperors. The Portrait of Emperor Jahangir Holding a Portrait of His Father, Emperor Akbar is a Mughal miniature painting dated between 1600 and 1615 CE. The artists credited are Mir Hashim and Abu’l-Hasan, two well-known painters of the Mughal atelier. The artwork is one of the many portraits that were given a strong push during the reign of Jahangir (1605 – 1627 CE). The significance and emotional touch lie in the historical context preceding Jahangir’s rule. Prior to ascending the throne, Prince Salim who later became known as Jahangir had rebelled against his father Akbar, going as far as establishing an independent court at Allahabad. Eventually following Akbar’s demise, Jahangir became the ruler of the Mughal Empire in 1605. This painting is dated to the period when Jahangir was constructing and reinforcing his imperial identity. The painting transforms the complicated relationship between father and son into a symbol of legitimate succession. It shows Jahangir with a halo around his head holding a small portrait of his father, Akbar also shown with a halo. Within the picture, Akbar can be seen holding a green globe, while Jahangir gazes towards the portrait. The main focus is the relationship between the two emperors. Jahangir is shown adorned with fine clothing and jewelry. The main theme here is the symbolic relationship between the two portraits. Akbar's portrait here becomes a visual representation of the authority from which Jahangir derives his own legitimacy. The green globe held by Akbar can be interpreted as being symbolic of sovereignty and how the imperial authority is being metaphorically transferred from father to son. The realistic portrayal of the portraits conveys the Mughal fascination with individual likeness. The inscription accompanying the painting reinforces the imperial imagery of the image by identifying both the rulers. Thus, the painting can be viewed as a means of strengthening royal legitimacy. It serves to attain the goal of depicting Jahangir as the rightful heir of Akbar's imperial legacy. The smaller portrait of Akbar held by Jahangir portrays Akbar as the source of the legacy, while Jahangir is the living continuation. The painting also shows artworks during the Mughal rule acted as be tools of power and legitimacy.
