The birth of Timur
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Ink |
| Current Location: | Musée Guimet, Paris |
The Birth of Timur is one of the most remarkable illustrations from the Akbarnama, painted during the reign of Emperor Akbar by the artist Shiv Das, with facial details completed by Miskina. Although the subject represents the birth of Timur, the fourteenth-century Central Asian conqueror and ancestor of the Mughal dynasty, the artists deliberately portray the event within a sixteenth-century Mughal palace rather than a nomadic Central Asian environment. This artistic choice reflects Akbar's intention to associate the Mughal dynasty with its illustrious Timurid ancestry. The painting is divided in architectural composition which are open to view and captured from bird's eye perspective. At the upper left is the zenana, where Timur's mother just gave birth/ Female attendants and servants are surrounded her. This kind of intimate scene is popular in mughal manuscripts paintings such as The Birth Of Prince Salim. The upper right presents another important moment, where a scholar or religious figure appears to be reading the Holy Quran. And the lower compartments depicts celebrations accompanying the princely birth. Musicians playing drums and other instruments while food is being served to the group of people gathered for festivities. Different social groups can be distinguished by their attires. Architecture plays a central role in organizing the narrative. The palace is filled with lattice windows and decorative parapets. This open architectural setting allows us to narrate multiple episodes within a single frame.
