Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Mansur. It dates from 1621 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The artist made a tiny note in Persian on the top left, saying the zebra came from Ethiopia.
Mansur painted a zebra in 1621. The animal stands straight, its black and white stripes sharp against a plain background. The artist made a tiny note in Persian on the top left, saying the zebra came from Ethiopia.
This zebra wasn’t just any zebra. The Mughal emperor Jahangir got it as a gift, then asked Mansur to paint it. Artists rarely painted zebras back then, so this is special.
See more like this at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This early‑17th‑century Mughal painting depicts a Burchell’s zebra (Equus quagga burchelli) rendered in stark black‑and‑white contrast against a plain backdrop. The work is attributed to the court artist Mansur, known by the honorific Nadir‘ul‑‘asri (Wonder of the Age), and bears a brief Persian inscription noting the animal’s Ethiopian origin.
Subject & Meaning
The zebra was a diplomatic gift presented to Emperor Jahangir by the envoy Mir Ja‘far, who had obtained the animal from Turkish travelers arriving from Ethiopia. Jahangir’s note confirms the creature was examined to verify it was not a painted horse, underscoring the court’s interest in authentic exotic fauna.
Technique & Style
Mansur’s execution emphasizes naturalistic observation, a hallmark of his work under both Akbar and Jahangir. The animal is shown in a standing pose, its distinctive striping rendered with precise, linear brushwork that isolates the figure from any decorative setting, highlighting the animal’s form.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in the Mughal year 1030 (1620‑21), likely as an illustration for Jahangir’s memoirs, the Jahangirnāma. Although the illustrated volume has not survived, the inscription remains the sole documentary link between the artist and the zebra. After viewing the work, Jahangir sent the animal to Shah Abbas of Iran as part of ongoing exchanges of rare gifts.
Context
Depictions of zebras were rare in Mughal art, reflecting the limited exposure to African wildlife. The commission illustrates the empire’s far‑reaching trade networks and the court’s fascination with documenting exotic species through highly realistic portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
This 17th-century artist painted delicate studies of birds and flowers, often on small, intricately bordered pages.
