Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom.
Location History:
Originally commissioned for Emperor Akbar's royal library (kitabkhana) in Northern India during the late 16th century, the manuscript was preserved in Mughal imperial archives. During the 19th century, large portions of the first Akbarnama manuscript entered British collections, eventually being acquired by the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum) in 1896
During the late sixteenth century, the imperial atelier of the Mughal Empire operated as a dynamic hub of collaborative art production, bringing together scribes, illuminators, and painters under direct royal patronage. This miniature folio, executed between 1590 and 1595 using opaque watercolour, gold leaf, and organic pigments on hand-milled paper, belongs to the first illustrated edition of the Akbarnama—the multi-volume official biography of Emperor Akbar authored by his prime minister and court historian, Abu'l-Fazl.
The scene presents an intimate glimpse into the inner workings of the imperial scriptorium (kitabkhana), set against the background of Akbar's grand architectural ambitions. Rather than focusing solely on the manual labor of stonecutters and masons building the courtly structures, the artist directs attention to the intellectual engine of the empire. The composition relies on a layered spatial arrangement to establish social and functional hierarchy:
Upper Tier: Senior scholars, chief calligraphers, and master artists assemble on elevated platforms draped in ornate, hand-woven carpets. They sit cross-legged while reviewing text layouts, correcting draft folios, and deliberating over artistic choices. On the far left, an attendant extends a patterned textile canopy over the masters, shielding them from the sun—a visual motif reserved for high-status royal activities.
Lower Tier: Junior artisans and specialists sit on low cushions, engaged in the physical tasks of manuscript creation. Calligraphers transcribe Persian prose onto long scrolls, while painters apply fine details to loose folios resting on low wooden book rests (rehal).
Beyond its descriptive qualities, the image carries rich symbolic weight regarding Akbar’s vision of empire. By embedding the scriptorium directly within a site of monument construction, the artwork links the physical building of cities to the intellectual construction of historical memory. The meticulous rendering of red sandstone columns, intricate floral carving, geometric marble screens (jaali), and vivid floor textiles highlights the aesthetic sophistication of the court. Furthermore, the scene celebrates the synthesis of Persian precision with indigenous South Asian naturalism, illustrating how collective craftsmanship served to immortalize the ruler's legacy.
'The Building of Fatehpur Sikri' by the Mughal artists Tulsi and Bhawani, is an artwork that stands out among Mughal miniatures, due to its cultural preservation aspect. Fatehpuri Sikri, during Mughal times, was a haven for intellectuals of all kinds, and this painting takes us to the core of the city, the scriptorium called the 'Kitabkhana'. Artisans of all kinds, including librarians, architects, masons, stonecutters and calligraphers are depicted in their natural element, all working towards the construction of the intellectual capital. Thus, 'The Building of Fatehpur Sikri', is not just a simple miniature, but a glimpse into the brain of the Mughal empire.
