“Timur Captures the Fortress of Sabzevar” is a work of Mughal art by the artist Nand Gwaliori. The work itself is a reproduction of some folios from the Zafarnama of Yazidi, also known as the “Book of Victory”, an acclaimed work of ornate prose that tracks the history of Timur and Khalil sultan, completed by Sharaf al-Din 'Ali Yazdi in 1424-25 AD. The work, alongside twelve paintings by the master Bihzad, wound up in the Mughal Court. The Emperor Akbar, in 1595-1600 commissioned some artists from his atelier to reproduce the folios, and this specific folio was done by the artist Nand Gwaliori, among the top artists in the Mughal atelier. The work is done in the highly refined style that characterized art in Akbar’s later reign. In the work, we can see Timur, resplendent on his horse, wearing bright orange robes and surrounded by members of his retinue, as he leads them to the now demolished fortress of Sabzevar. The walls of the fortress have turned to rubble, trapping and crushing many to their death. We can see that the people inside the fortress are fleeing away as fast as possible, with some carrying their children, some carrying their goods, and some simply running away as fast as possible. The work is, thus, able to display the strength and military prowess of Timur, as well as his clear ruthlessness in crushing his enemies.
Nand Gwaliori’s painting vividly captures Timur’s terrifying military force with remarkable artistic finesse. Through dynamic compositions of collapsing walls, fleeing refugees, and a calm, commanding Timur, the work brilliantly balances Mughal aesthetic refinement with raw historical brutality. It stands as a masterclass in storytelling, showcasing the conqueror’s ruthless power and narrative drama.
