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The gathering of dervishes with Prince Dara Shikuh

Unknown

1685

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Baroque Mughal Painting Baroque

Dominant colour

The gathering of dervishes with Prince Dara Shikuh is a 1685 paint by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1685 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows five people sitting outside under a tree. Three men are shirtless, with one holding a drum, while the others lean against the tree or sit nearby. Two others wear loose robes, one of them crouching and looking down. The background is simple—a rocky hill and a few scattered plants. The writing at the top hints this scene might involve a prince, but the faces and figures are drawn with soft, muted colors. The style feels calm, almost like a quiet moment frozen in time. If you like this, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more works like it.

The story of this work

Overview

The painting depicts a gathering of dervishes with a prince, shown seated cross-legged beneath a tree; the work uses opaque watercolour on paper with a yellow mount speckled with gold leaf. The figures are identified as ascetics, and the prince may be Prince Akbar, youngest son of Emperor Aurangzeb, or possibly Dara Shikuh, eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan. Acquired from Messrs Luzac & Co. in 1913, the piece is recorded under object number RP 1913-1239M in museum records.

Read the full account in the museum source.