Temple idols fall and the sea dries up on the birth of the Prophet Muhammad
1570
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1570
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Temple idols fall and the sea dries up on the birth of the Prophet Muhammad is a 1570 paint by Unknown, a Mughal Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
The painting shows temple idols falling and the sea drying up at the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. This scene is part of a larger story, a collection of adventures called the Hamzanama. It was commissioned by a powerful emperor named Akbar. To learn more about the style and methods used to create this work, look into the technique of sfumato.
The painting depicts miraculous events said to have occurred in Mecca at the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, showing temple idols toppling from their places of worship as witnesses react with gestures of astonishment. In the foreground, figures point to the receding sea, where fish and aquatic creatures flounder on the exposed seabed, while others tear their hair in despair over the destruction of their deities. Originally part of the *Hamzanama*, a Mughal manuscript commissioned by Emperor Akbar around 1562, the illustration was produced over 15 years in the imperial workshop. By the 19th…
Read the full account in the museum source.
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