Emperor Babur Holding Court, folio from an Akbarnama
- Culture
- Indian
- Period
- Mughal dynasty, 1526–1858
- Date
- 1604
- Classification
- Drawings & watercolors, paintings
- Collection
- Islamic Art
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- image: 13 x 8 1/4 in. (33 x 21 cm)
sheet: 15 3/16 x 9 13/16 in. (38.5 x 25 cm) - Credit Line
- Gift of J. Lionberger Davis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 25:1958
NOTES
Babur (1483–1530) founded the Mughal dynasty in India in 1526. A direct descendant of Genghis Khan (c.1162–1227) and Timur (Tamerlane, 1336–1405), he successfully challenged Afghan and Rajput interests in northern India. An accomplished writer with a refined sense of aesthetics, Emperor Babur established the artistic character of Mughal imperial court life for generations.
Emperor Akbar (1542–1605) followed his grandfather Babur by energetically pursuing artistic interests of his own. Although he could neither read nor write, Akbar promoted art and culture at his palace by building libraries, supporting philosophers, architects, poets, calligraphers, and painters. In 1604, he commissioned a second set of paintings to illustrate the Akbarnama (Book of Akbar), a history of his ancestry and his reign, which included this image of Babur holding court.
Emperor Akbar (1542–1605) followed his grandfather Babur by energetically pursuing artistic interests of his own. Although he could neither read nor write, Akbar promoted art and culture at his palace by building libraries, supporting philosophers, architects, poets, calligraphers, and painters. In 1604, he commissioned a second set of paintings to illustrate the Akbarnama (Book of Akbar), a history of his ancestry and his reign, which included this image of Babur holding court.
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