Artwork
Dara Shikoh
Dara Shikoh is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Chitarman. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work portrays the Mughal heir Dara Shikoh engaged in dialogue with two revered Sufi mystics, Mian Mir of Lahore and Mullah Shah of Badakshan. The trio is arranged on a simple mat before a modest dwelling, with a river and foliage suggested in the distance, creating a tranquil setting that emphasizes the exchange of ideas.
Subject & Meaning
The composition reflects a moment of spiritual and intellectual communion, highlighting Dara Shikoh’s known interest in syncretic philosophy and his respect for Sufi thought. By placing the prince alongside the saints, the artist underscores a shared pursuit of mystical insight that transcended political boundaries in 17th‑century Mughal culture.
Technique & Style
Executed in opaque watercolour enriched with gold on paper, the painting balances delicate washes of pale blue and green with luminous gold accents. Fine brushwork renders the figures’ garments and the surrounding architecture, while ornamental gold leaf borders and miniature floral motifs frame the scene, echoing the refined aesthetics of Mughal miniature painting.
History & Provenance
The piece bears the signature of the artist Chitarman along its lower margin. It entered the collection of Sir Robert Nathan in the early twentieth century and was subsequently bequeathed to the museum in 1921, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings on Mughal art.
Artist & collection
