Shah Jahan
1630
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1630
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Shah Jahan is a 1630 unspecified by Hashim, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a man in a white robe and turban, his dark beard framing a calm face. Tiny gold details glint on his clothes and the green background. This small portrait was made to mark Shah Jahan’s rise to emperor. The artist signed his name behind the ruler’s neck—a quiet nod to his own skill. The full beard was a new look, showing the emperor’s shift toward tradition. To see more royal faces from this time, look up subject: india, mughal period (1526-1756).
This sensitive portrait jewel was probably painted shortly after Shah Jahan came to the throne of the powerful Mughal Empire in 1628 after the death of his father, Jahangir. He decided to wear a full beard, in reference to his increased orthodoxy in comparison to his more liberal father and grandfather. The artist’s signature appears behind Shah Jahan’s nape.
This portrait belonged to Cleveland mogul Jeptha H. Wade II, a cofounder of CMA.
Read the full account in the museum source.
