1630
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Untitled is a 1630 paint by Balchand, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows Emperor Shah Jahan in a soft pink robe, holding a fly whisk. Two bright birds of paradise swoop above his head. The artist signs his name in black below the emperor’s feet. Court artists like Balchand made these small, detailed paintings for royalty. This one was kept in a book of artwork and calligraphy. Look up Balchand to see more of his work.
The painting depicts Emperor Shah Jahan standing, facing left, holding a fly whisk, with two birds of paradise swooping above his head. Executed in opaque watercolour on paper, the work is signed by the court artist Balchand in black along the narrow border beneath the emperor’s feet. Part of a folio that includes illuminated calligraphy on its reverse side, it was donated in 1921 as part of a bequest by Lady Wantage. Some folios from this group are original works from the reigns of Jahangir or Shah Jahan, while others, including this one, were identified by scholar Moti Chandra as…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Balchand made delicate portraits for Mughal emperors in the 1600s. Here you can see his *Portrait of Murad Bakhsh* from 1635, where the young prince sits stiffly in pearls and gold, and *Dara Shikoh with his consort*,…
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