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Artwork Page for Nur Jahan holding a portrait of Emperor Jahangir

Details / Information for Nur Jahan holding a portrait of Emperor Jahangir

Nur Jahan holding a portrait of Emperor Jahangir

c. 1627

attributed to Bishandas

(Indian)
Mughal India
gum tempera and gold on paper
Painting only: 13.6 x 6.4 cm (5 3/8 x 2 1/2 in.); Page: 30 x 22.1 cm (11 13/16 x 8 11/16 in.)
Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection 2013.325
Location: not on view
Public Domain
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Did You Know?

Jahangir died at 58, outliving his younger brothers by about 25 years.

Description

Nur Jahan, identified as the favorite wife of Mughal emperor Jahangir (reigned 1605–27), holds a formal portrait of her recently deceased husband. She handled most of the affairs of state and had hoped to remain in power after Jahangir’s death. Instead, however, she lost the throne to her stepson. Like the ghost in Shahzia Sikander’s Touchstone and Uprooted Order, imperial power slips away. Upon studying this historical Indian work, Sikander notes a disparity between the physical presence and strength of Nur Jahan and the diminished stature of Jahangir, who is reduced to an image.
Nur Jahan holding a portrait of Emperor Jahangir

Nur Jahan holding a portrait of Emperor Jahangir

c. 1627

Bishandas

(Indian)
Mughal India

See Also

  • Collection
    Collection
    Indian
  • Department
    Department
    Indian and Southeast Asian Art
  • Type of artwork
    Type of artwork
    Painting
  • Credit line
    Credit line
    Gift In Honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by Exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection

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