Mughal emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan with their ministers
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Gouache |
| Current Location: | Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Ireland |
| Location History: | Created in the royal court studio in Agra (1630–1631). Held in the Mughal imperial library until the late 18th century. The album was later separated and individual pages entered British collections before being acquired by collector Sir Alfred Chester Beatty in the 20th century. |
In my view, the coming together of generations within a fictionalised setup still continues to hold significant relevance. This can be seen in how all three Mughal emperors of their respective times/reigns don't just reflect the pedigree and bloodline that they've inherited, but also a broader continuity in their Persian influences and patronage of arts & architecture; and appetite for intellectual curiosity and cultural pluralism. However, the under same royal canopy - what they're wearing, how they're seated, where they're seated, and how they have advisory support and a seemingly battle-tested noble at their disposal (the creative positioning of it) - says a lot about how they all occupy their places in the grander scheme of things, literally and metaphorically. This "passing-on" of the baton/mantle is not just ceremonial but also pragmatic and legitimate; after all, empires run on hierarchy with clear delegation of roles, duties and responsibilities.