The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 25, 2024
A Courtier, Possibly Khan Alam, Holding a Spinel and a Deccan Sword
c. 1605–1610
attributed to Govardhan
(Indian, active c.1596–1645)
calligrapher
(Indian, active c. 1590–1630)
Page: 17.8 x 12.5 cm (7 x 4 15/16 in.)
Location: not on view
Description
According to Akbar's court historian, the emperor ordered likenesses to be taken of the grandees of his realm. "An immense album was thus formed: those that have passed away have received a new life, and those who are still alive have immortality promised them." Akbar's son and successor, Jahangir (reigned 1605-27), continued the tradition of commissioning works of lifelike portraiture for inclusion in imperial albums. This courtier wears an opulent fur-trimmed, fringed velvet coat over his belted white tunic and striped pants-the typical Mughal dress derived from their roots among the nomadic horse-riding people of Central Asia. The artist has reveled in creating the soft textures of the facial hair, fur and fabrics. He holds a ruby-like gemstone called a spinel, which was prized among the Mughals for its talismanic properties of protection during battle.- ?-November 1985(Terence McInerney Fine Arts, New York, NY, sold to Ralph and Catherine Glynn Benkaim)November 1985-2013Ralph Benkaim [1914-2001] and Catherine Glynn Benkaim [b. 1946], Beverly Hills, CA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art2013-The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Mace, Sonya Rhie, Mohsen Ashtiany, Catherine Glynn, Pedro Moura Carvalho, Marcus Fraser, and Ruby Lal. Mughal Paintings: Art and Stories: the Cleveland Museum of Art. London: D Giles Limited, 2016. cat. 42, p. 24, 227
- Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 245). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (December 31, 2013-June 30, 2014).
- {{cite web|title=A Courtier, Possibly Khan Alam, Holding a Spinel and a Deccan Sword|url=false|author=Govardhan, Abd al-Rahim, the Anbarin-Qalam|year=c. 1605–1610|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2013.323.a