Artwork

Akbar and Jahangir Examine a Ghir Falcon while Prince Khusrau Stands Behind

Akbar and Jahangir Examine a Ghir Falcon while Prince Khusrau Stands Behind is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1603 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2013.317
Credit line: Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection

About this work

Overview

This painting depicts a scene with three figures under a canopy: an elderly emperor, a prince offering a falcon, and a younger prince standing behind.

Subject & Meaning

The emperor, likely Akbar, receives a ghir falcon from his son, Prince Salim, later known as Emperor Jahangir. The scene conveys a moment of familial interaction and gift-giving, with the falcon symbolizing the prince's devotion and the emperor's power.

Technique & Style

The painting showcases intricate details, such as the thin leather straps on the falcon and the tiny bell on the antelope, demonstrating the artist's skill in rendering textures and conveying subtle signs of royal authority.