Artwork
Jahangir and Qutb ad-Din Khan Koka
Jahangir and Qutb ad-Din Khan Koka is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Manohar. It dates from 1616 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This painting depicts Mughal emperor Jahangir seated on a platform beneath a red sandstone canopy, surrounded by attendants and nobles.
About this work
Overview
This painting depicts Mughal emperor Jahangir seated on a platform beneath a red sandstone canopy, surrounded by attendants and nobles. The scene is set on a terrace, with figures identified by small Persian inscriptions.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is Jahangir, accompanied by his foster-brother Qutb al-Din Khan Koka and other nobles, including Raja Sangram and Dalpat Ujjainiya. The attendants and nobles convey the emperor's status and power.
Technique & Style
The painting is attributed to the artist Manohar and features characteristic Mughal techniques, including the use of Persian inscriptions to identify figures. The addition of floral borders during Shah Jahan's reign reflects the evolving style of Mughal art.
History & Provenance
The painting was created during Jahangir's early reign and later remounted for an album of Shah Jahan. It was part of a collection bequeathed to the museum by Lady Wantage, along with other 17th-century court paintings and later copies.
Artist & collection
