Artwork
Battle of Sarnal in Gujarat
Battle of Sarnal in Gujarat is a paint painting by the Mughal Painting artist La'l. It dates from 1592 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The panel forms the right-hand side of a two‑page illustration from the Akbarnama, the official chronicle of Emperor Akbar’s reign.
About this work
The painting shows a battle scene with horses and troops in an arid landscape.
This work is part of a larger story, the Akbarnama, which tells the history of the Mughal emperor Akbar. It's interesting because it depicts a real event from 1572.
To learn more about the style and techniques used in this painting, look into the technique of sfumato.
Overview
The panel forms the right-hand side of a two‑page illustration from the Akbarnama, the official chronicle of Emperor Akbar’s reign. It records the 1572 campaign in Gujarat, showing Akbar on an armored horse at the centre, his troops arrayed behind him across a dry, low‑hilled terrain dotted with cactus‑like shrubs.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts the Battle of Sarnal, a decisive encounter in Akbar’s effort to annex the Sultanate of Gujarat. By placing the emperor prominently on horseback, the image emphasizes his personal leadership and martial authority, while the surrounding soldiers reinforce the scale of the Mughal force confronting a hostile landscape.
Technique & Style
Executed by the senior court painter La’l with assistance from Babu Naqqash, the work follows the Mughal miniature tradition, employing fine brushwork and a muted palette to render atmospheric depth. Though not a typical example of sfumato, the painting achieves a subtle gradation of tone that softens edges and suggests the hazy heat of the arid setting.
History & Provenance
In 1896 the Victoria and Albert Museum acquired it from Mrs Frances Clarke, who had obtained it in India during her husband’s service as Commissioner of Oudh.
The Akbarnama was compiled by the historian Abu’l‑Fazl between 1590 and 1596, with illustrations added circa 1592‑94 by a workshop of at least forty‑nine artists. After Akbar’s death the manuscript remained in the royal libraries of his successors Jahangir and Shah Jahan. In 1896 the Victoria and Albert Museum acquired it from Mrs Frances Clarke, who had obtained it in India during her husband’s service as Commissioner of Oudh.
Context
The illustration belongs to a broader narrative that records Akbar’s military expansions and administrative reforms. The Gujarat campaign marked a pivotal moment in consolidating Mughal control over western India, and the visual record served both as a historical document and as imperial propaganda, reinforcing the emperor’s image as a victorious and divinely sanctioned ruler.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lal (La'l) sometimes called Lal wa Sarjangal is a town and the administrative center of Lal wa Sarjangal District, Ghor province in central Afghanistan.
