Artwork Page for Portrait Jewel of Emperor Jahangir

Details / Information for Portrait Jewel of Emperor Jahangir

Portrait Jewel of Emperor Jahangir

early 1600s

Mughal India, court of Jahangir

(reigned 1605–27)
Medium
Gum tempera and gold on paper
Measurements
Image: 4.8 x 3.2 cm (1 7/8 x 1 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1944.496
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The pearl earring denotes Jahangir’s affiliation with an order of Sufi mystics.

Description

The fourth Mughal emperor of India, Jahangir, had tiny portraits of himself made to give as gifts to his friends, family, and nobles of the court as a sign of royal favor. These portraits were mounted and worn as jewels or turban ornaments. The carpet or textile under his hands references the covered rail of a balcony where the emperor addressed the public three times a day to hear complaints or petitions.
A vertically oriented gum tempera and gold painting depicts Emperor Jahangir, a man with a medium-light skin tone and dark mustache, in profile facing left. He wears a voluminous red and gold striped turban and a seafoam green tunic with ornate purple trim. Strands of lustrous pearls drape over his chest. A circular halo glows around his head against a shimmering gold background. His hands rest on a floral ledge above a red base.

Portrait Jewel of Emperor Jahangir

early 1600s

Mughal India, court of Jahangir (reigned 1605–27)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork