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Page from the Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds)

the Anbarin-Qalam Abd al-Rahim

1608

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Mughal Painting Baroque Portrait

Dominant colour

Page from the Mirror of Holiness (Mir’at al-quds) is a 1608 unspecified by the Anbarin-Qalam Abd al-Rahim, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: the Anbarin-Qalam Abd al-Rahim
When & what style?: 1608 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a courtier wearing a fancy coat. He has a serious expression. The coat is made of velvet and has fur trim. This courtier was likely an important person in Mughal India. He was painted to be included in an imperial album. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist Abd al-Rahim, the Anbarin-Qalam.

The story of this work

Overview

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…

Read the full account in the museum source.