The Magi Follow the Star, from a Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569–1627)

The Magi Follow the Star, from a Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier

1602–4

attributed to Payag

(Indian)

Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569–1627)

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Sheet: 26.2 x 15.7 cm (10 5/16 x 6 3/16 in.); Image: 20.6 x 10.9 cm (8 1/8 x 4 5/16 in.)

John L. Severance Fund 2005.145.34.a

Location: not on view

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Description

One of the three kings points excitedly at the star at the upper left edge of the page, while another bites the finger of astonishment; the third holds his fist over his heart. They are all dressed like Portuguese merchants, but they ride camels associated with their homeland in Arabia, as specified in the text. At the breakaway court of Prince Salim in Allahabad, high-quality materials were not as plentiful as in the imperial capital. The paper is brittle and has browned excessively, and the paint films are relatively thin; here the text from the verso shows through the lightly colored background.