Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint painting by the Mughal Painting artist Isma'il Kashmiri. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This small painting shows two figures in a garden. They wear long robes and stand near a tree. One figure holds a cup while the other points toward a building in the background.
It comes from a Persian manuscript made around 1590. The artist mixes Indian and Persian styles. The colors are bright but the scene feels calm.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this one.
Overview
This untitled watercolor on paper, created circa 1590, is an illustration from the *Baburnama*. It originally formed the right half of a double composition, depicting a scene of Babur meeting the Khurasan Mirzas in a tent.
Subject & Meaning
The painting actually shows two figures in a serene garden setting, clad in long robes, engaged in a quiet interaction: one holds a cup, while the other gestures towards a distant building. This tranquil encounter contrasts with the expected depiction of Babur and the Mirzas, suggesting a possible misattribution or reinterpretation of the scene's subject.
Technique & Style
The work exemplifies the fusion of Indian and Persian artistic traditions, characteristic of the period. Vibrant colors are balanced by the overall calm atmosphere of the composition, highlighting the artist's skill in blending visual dynamism with serenity.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Isma'il Kashmiri, this painting was part of Akbar's commissioned illustrated manuscripts. Later acquired by the museum from Messrs Luzac & Co. in 1912, its detailed provenance was clarified through a 2023 research project.
Context
Created during Akbar's patronage of the arts, this piece reflects the Mughal Empire's flourishing cultural and artistic exchange between Indian and Persian influences. Comparable works can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection of Persian manuscripts from the same era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Isma’il Kashmiri liked to borrow from the royal studio next door. He painted the same plum tree—slightly bent at the crown—over and over, like an artist stuck on a favorite sketch. That tree appears in the background of…
