The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Posthumous portrait of Emperor Jahangir under a canopy (recto); Calligraphy (verso)

Posthumous portrait of Emperor Jahangir under a canopy (recto); Calligraphy (verso)

c. 1650
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Jahangir holds a ruby or spinel, thought to be a talisman for military victory.

Description

Jahangir, the fourth Mughal emperor, was remembered for his greatness long after his death. Ruling from 1605 to 1627, he laid the foundations for long-term trade and diplomatic relations with various nations of Europe, most notably England and Portugal. He oversaw the transition of Mughal India into a global power during a time that can be considered the international Age of Exploration. This posthumous portrait depicts Jahangir amid the trappings of wealth and power with the light of divine sanction shining behind his head. A white marble railing demarcates his imperial space.
  • 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. no. 62, p. 214
    Lal, Ruby. Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan. New York, NY : W.W. Norton & Company, 2018. Reproduced: color plate after p. 142
  • Art and Stories from Mughal India. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (July 31-October 23, 2016).
  • {{cite web|title=Posthumous portrait of Emperor Jahangir under a canopy (recto); Calligraphy (verso)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1650|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2013.329