Open full image Pin

An Ambassador before Humayun

Miskina

1610

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Mughal Painting Baroque History Painting Made for Prince Salim

Dominant colour

An Ambassador before Humayun is a 1610 unspecified by Miskina, a Baroque work, depicting Made for Prince Salim, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Miskina
When & what style?: 1610 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a Mughal emperor seated on a low throne under a striped tent, surrounded by courtiers and a European man in black. This painting shows a moment from Humayun’s exile, when he met foreign diplomats. The artist worked for Humayun’s son, Akbar, so the scene was painted decades later—more memory than fact. Tiny gold details on the tent and robes show how Mughal artists mixed Persian and Indian styles. If you like this, look up Mughal India, Indian art for more royal scenes like it.

The story of this work

Overview

Humayun, the second Mughal emperor of India, son of Babur and father of Akbar, is enthroned in an outdoor royal encampment. The scene recalls Humayun’s 15 years of exile between 1540 and 1555, many of which he spent traveling through Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, after an Afghan rebel ousted him from India.

Did you know?

Humayun wore a special type of turban, his Taj-i Izzat (Crown of Power and Glory).

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Miskina

Miskin (c. 1560 - c. 1604), also known as Miskina, was a Mughal painter in the court of Akbar I. The name 'Miskin' itself is a pen name. Miskin is recorded by the historian and grand vizier of Akbar, Abu'l-Fazl, in a…

See the richer artist page