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Posthumous portrait of Emperor Jahangir under a canopy (recto)

Unknown

1650

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Mughal Painting Baroque Portrait Mughal

Dominant colour

Posthumous portrait of Emperor Jahangir under a canopy (recto) is a 1650 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, depicting Mughal, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1650 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

A man sits on a jeweled throne under a golden canopy, holding a globe and a book. His robe shimmers with pearls, and light glows behind his head like a halo. This painting was made decades after the emperor died—his son likely ordered it to honor his legacy. The artist used tiny brushstrokes to show every gem and thread, a style Mughal painters perfected. To see more works like this, look up mughal.

The story of this work

Overview

Jahangir, the fourth Mughal emperor, was remembered for his greatness long after his death. Ruling from 1605 to 1627, he laid the foundations for long-term trade and diplomatic relations with various nations of Europe, most notably England and Portugal. He oversaw the transition of Mughal India into a global power during a time that can be considered the international Age of Exploration. This posthumous portrait depicts Jahangir amid the trappings of wealth and power with the light of divine sanction shining behind his head. A white marble railing demarcates his imperial space.