Portrait Jewel of Emperor Jahangir
1604
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1604
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Portrait Jewel of Emperor Jahangir is a 1604 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, depicting Court of Jahangir, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
A tiny man in a red robe sits on a gold throne, holding a book and a flower. His face is calm, his beard neat, and his turban sparkles with jewels. This portrait was small enough to wear—like a locket or brooch. Jahangir gave these as gifts to show favor. The carpet under his hands hints at a balcony where he listened to his people every day. To see more of these royal miniatures, look up mughal india, court of jahangir (reigned 1605–27).
The fourth Mughal emperor of India, Jahangir, had tiny portraits of himself made to give as gifts to his friends, family, and nobles of the court as a sign of royal favor. These portraits were mounted and worn as jewels or turban ornaments. The carpet or textile under his hands references the covered rail of a balcony where the emperor addressed the public three times a day to hear complaints or petitions.
The pearl earring denotes Jahangir’s affiliation with an order of Sufi mystics.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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