Title: Portrait of Emperor Bahadur Shah in old age. c.1500-1720

Dimensions: 42 x 28 cm (folio dimensions) | RCIN 1005068.ad

Descriptions: A portrait of Bahadur Shah I (r. 1707–12) enthroned, c.1720. The composition is a copy in reverse of the portrait of Shah-Jahan in the frontispiece of the Padshahnamah (RCIN 1005025. e) and the painting was likely made specifically for this album to face the painting of Muhammad Shah (r. 1719–48) opposite (RCIN 1005025. af). Muhammad Shah was Bahadur Shah’s grandson through his youngest son and considered himself Bahadur Shah’s true successor after the turbulent reign of his cousin Emperor Farrukh-Siyar (r. 1713–19). He sits facing left, his head surrounded by a green halo, on a golden throne under a chatra with an attendant holding a fly whisk behind him.

People involved

Creator(s)

Mir Ali (c. 1500-1550) (calligrapher)

Mughal artist (artist)

Acquirer(s) George III, King of the United Kingdom (1738-1820)

Subject(s) Bahadur Shah (r. 1707-1712)

Physical properties Measurements 42 x 28 cm

(folio dimensions) 24.0 x 9.9 cm (panel) 32.0 x 21.8 cm 

(image) Groupings Category Manuscripts Object 

type(s) printed & manuscript material manuscripts calligraphy visual works paintings

Subject(s) Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sports Art Paintings Paintings-Indian school Miniatures (paintings, oil/watercolor) Places Asia India

Mughal Library