A Mughal courtier
1704
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1704
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a man in a white robe and turban, standing against a plain green background. His hands are folded, one clutching a maroon and gold scarf. This is one of the first realistic portraits from Mughal India. The emperor Akbar wanted to remember people without writing their names—so artists had to make faces you’d recognize. The scarf was probably a gift from the emperor, a sign of favor. If you like this, look up more from the court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605).
