Artwork
Khan-i Kilan
Khan-i Kilan is a paint painting by the Mughal Painting artist Miskina. It dates from 1592 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This painting shows a scene of a general being stabbed by an envoy.
The general, Khan-i Kilan, was on a march to Gujarat when this happened. It's interesting that the painting tells a story from a specific event in 1572, and it's part of a bigger book of paintings called the Akbarnama.
You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Miskina.
Overview
The painting 'Khan-i Kilan' is an illustration from the Akbarnama, depicting a historical event. It was created by artists Miskina and Sarwan as part of a larger manuscript commissioned by Emperor Akbar.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows the wounding of Khan-i Kilan, a Mughal general, by a Rajput envoy during a march to Gujarat in 1572. The incident led to Akbar taking personal command to quell the ensuing rebellion.
Technique & Style
The work is characteristic of Mughal painting, a style developed in Akbar's 'House of Books'. The illustration was painted by at least forty-nine different artists, including Miskina, who contributed to the Akbarnama's visual narrative.
History & Provenance
The Akbarnama was begun in 1588 and largely completed by 1596. After Akbar's death in 1605, the manuscript remained in his son Jahangir's library. It was later acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, widow of Major General John Clarke.
Artist & collection
Artist
Miskin (c. 1560 - c. 1604), also known as Miskina, was a Mughal painter in the court of Akbar I. The name 'Miskin' itself is a pen name. Miskin is recorded by the historian and grand vizier of Akbar, Abu'l-Fazl, in a…
