Artwork
Mu'nim Khan and Khan Zaman
Mu'nim Khan and Khan Zaman is a paint painting by the Mughal Painting artist Kesav. It dates from 1592 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The miniature depicts a meeting on the Ganges River between Mu’nim Khan, the governor of Kabul, and Khan Zaman, Akbar’s prime minister, in December 1565. Executed for the illustrated version of the Akbarnama, the scene shows the two officials seated in a boat against a tranquil riverbank, framed by trees.
Subject & Meaning
The encounter illustrates a diplomatic dialogue between regional authority and the imperial administration, emphasizing the reach of Akbar’s governance into distant provinces. By placing the discussion on a river, the image conveys both the literal journey and the flow of political communication within the empire.
Technique & Style
The composition was designed by the court artist Kesav the Elder and painted by Banwali the Younger, both prominent figures in Mughal workshop practice. Executed in fine brushwork on paper, the miniature employs the characteristic Mughal palette of rich reds, greens, and golds, with delicate line drawing to render clothing, facial features, and the surrounding foliage.
History & Provenance
This particular copy, bearing red‑ink artist signatures, was a royal manuscript that passed from Akbar to his son Jahangir and later to Shah Jahan.
The Akbarnama, commissioned by Emperor Akbar and written in Persian by Abu’l‑Fazl between 1590 and 1596, was illustrated around 1592‑95. This particular copy, bearing red‑ink artist signatures, was a royal manuscript that passed from Akbar to his son Jahangir and later to Shah Jahan. In the 19th century it entered the collection of Major General John Clarke in India, and after his death was sold by his widow to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1896.
Context
The illustration belongs to the earliest fully painted edition of the Akbarnata, a key source for Mughal historiography. It reflects the empire’s emphasis on visual documentation of state affairs, integrating textual narrative with courtly art to reinforce imperial legitimacy and the sophistication of Akbar’s administration.
Artist & collection
Artist
These small, jewel-toned paintings show Mughal nobles and a warrior queen frozen in rich detail: Mu'nim Khan rests beside Khan Zaman in one, while Rani Durgavati stands firm in another.
