The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Shah Jahan holding a spinel and a long Deccan sword, from the Late Shah Jahan Album

Shah Jahan holding a spinel and a long Deccan sword, from the Late Shah Jahan Album

c. 1650

attributed to Hashim

(Indian, active 1598-c.1650)
India, Mughal, 17th century
Gum tempera and gold on paper
Page: 36.7 x 25.4 cm (14 7/16 x 10 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 2013.328
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

The finest fabric was the most transparent, like the Emperor’s New Clothes.

Description

This page came from an imperial album assembled for Shah Jahan toward the end of his reign. Only portraits of the emperors have angels hovering with a crown in the top border along with the predator peacefully paired with his prey below. Shah Jahan chose to link these symbols of peace and justice with divine sanction for his rule, as indicated by the light of the sun and moon behind his head. Royal retainers carry emblems of sovereignty in the left border. Imperial Mughal painting reached a pinnacle of refinement and formality under Shah Jahan. The artists reveal astonishing skill in their ability to render the subtle texture of the feather in his turban crest, the gleam of every jewel, the softness of his beard, and the delicacy of his costly translucent muslin robe. In his hand Shah Jahan holds a ruby-like gemstone called a spinel, prized among the Mughals for its talismanic properties of protection during battle.
  • 10 July 1968
    Sotheby’s, London, Western, Oriental and Hebrew Manuscripts and Miniatures, 10 July 1968 sale, lot 18
    1968–2013
    Ralph Benkaim [1914–2001] and Catherine Glynn Benkaim [b. 1946], Beverly Hills, CA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2013-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Beach, Milo Cleveland, Stuart Cary Welch, and Glenn D. Lowry. The Grand Mogul: Imperial Painting in India, 1600-1660. Williamstown, MA: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 1978. no. 77
    Leach, Linda York. Mughal and Other Indian Paintings from the Chester Beatty Library. London: Scorpion Cavendish, 1995. p. 427
    Glynn, Catherine. "Shah Jahan and Pahari painting" in Discerning Eye & Eloquent Line: A Festschrift : Essays to Honor R.E. Lewis on His 75th Birthday. Betsy Geraghty Fryberger, editor. Palo Alto, Calif: Betsy G. Fryberger, 1998.
    Wright, Elaine Julia, and Susan Stronge. Muraqqaʻ Imperial Mughal Albums from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin. Alexandria, VA: Art Services International, 2008. pp.464, app. 3.61
    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. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. 61, p. 31, 233
  • Art and Stories from Mughal India. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 31-October 23, 2016).
    Main Gallery Rotation (gallery 245). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (April 28, 2015 - November 2, 2015).
    Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 245). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (December 31, 2013-June 30, 2014).
  • {{cite web|title=Shah Jahan holding a spinel and a long Deccan sword, from the Late Shah Jahan Album|url=false|author=Hashim|year=c. 1650|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2013.328