Illustration to the Akbarnama

The painting is a blend between Persian miniature traditions and emerging Indian artistic elements. The paintings are densely populated with manuscript symbolising how it is an integration between an important historical document and art. The illustrations operate as a curated visual statement to construct an idealised image of kingship and consolidating Akbar’s political legitimacy. The elephants are used as a symbol of strength. The manuscript written by historian Abu’l-Fazl is divided into three parts Akbars Volume 1-Genealogy and early history, Volume 2-Akbar’s reign and Volume 3-Ain-i-Akbari, the manuscript was not written for the general public but for administrators, future historians and the elites. The visuals were meant as a constructed narrative to shape how Akbar was perceived as a ruler by his people.