Muhammad Husain Mirza and Akbar
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Gouache |
| Current Location: | Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London |
| Location History: | The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased the manuscript of the printed Akbarnama in 1896 from Frances Clarke, the widow of Major General John Clarke, who bought it in India while serving as Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862. |
This painting was illustrated by Mughal court artist Miskin with details painted by Mohesh, for the Akbarnama, the official chronicle of Akbar’s reign. This chronicle was commissioned between 1590 and 1596, written by court historian Abu’l Fazl, however the illustration on the copy of the manuscript in Victoria and Albert Museum in London is between 1592 and 1595; and is thought to be one of the earliest illustrated versions of the text. Painted in opaque watercolour( gouache) and gold on Paper. This painting is another addition to the miniature painting tradition prevalent during the Mughal dynasty, Miskin’s composition in the painting depicts Muhammad Husain Mirza, a significant nemesis of Akbar, being presented as a prisoner and Akbar depicted on a horseback accompanied by his courtiers. Muhammad Husain Mirza launched a rebellion in Gujarat which was squashed by a military march by Akbar, eventually leading to his capture in 1573. This painting accordingly glorifies Akbar, who led a successful military march, and Mirza, a helpless in front of the emperor while being surrounded by the inhumanity of a fight against two armies, with the gore usage of decapitated heads in a pile, men of both army in their distinct uniforms fighting with one another along with animals including elephants and horses. The pristine like figure of Akbar stays central to the painting holding out his hand to Mirza to forgive or to surrender. This kind of paintings thus attribute to the divine feature of a chronicle like Akbarnama where the emperor is the most important after god.