Artwork
Portrait of the Aged Akbar
Portrait of the Aged Akbar is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Govardhan. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting is a posthumous portrait of Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, created in a style that reflects his revered status.
About this work
Overview
This painting is a posthumous portrait of Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, created in a style that reflects his revered status.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Akbar with a long white beard and calm expression, surrounded by symbols of divine authority, including Christian angels and mythical birds, signifying the harmony and peace of his rule.
Technique & Style
The artist employed the nim-qalam style, characterized by delicate drawing with subtle shading and touches of gold, although heavy outlines were added later.
History & Provenance
Commissioned by Shah Jahan, Akbar's grandson, who ruled from 1628 to 1658, the portrait was likely created by Govardhan, an imperial court artist, to glorify Akbar and the Mughal lineage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Govardhan (fl. 1595–1640) was a Mughal era Indian painter of the Mughal school of painting. His father Bhavani Das, had been a minor painter in the imperial workshop. Like many other Mughal painters, they were Hindus.…
Untitled
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Aurangzeb
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Untitled