Artwork
Pir Muhammad Khan
Pir Muhammad Khan 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
Overview
The miniature illustrates the fatal river crossing of Pir Muhammad Khan, a Mughal general under Emperor Akbar, as recorded in the Akbarnama. Central to the composition is the chaotic fording of the Narmada River in 1562, where the general’s horse is thrown into the current and both rider and animal disappear beneath the water.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures the moment of Pir Muhammad Khan’s drowning, emphasizing the peril of night‑time river crossings for imperial forces. Nearby soldiers and pack animals continue their passage, highlighting a stark indifference to the general’s fate and underscoring the hazards of military campaigns in central India.
Technique & Style
Executed by the court artist Miskina with details added by Paras, the miniature employs fine brushwork to render swirling water and the tension of horses and riders. Inflated animal skins serve as makeshift rafts, while the composition’s crowded diagonal lines convey movement and disorder typical of late‑16th‑century Mughal illustration.
History & Provenance
The image belongs to a partial copy of the Akbarnama held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, likely painted between 1592 and 1595. The Akbarnama, commissioned by Akbar and written in Persian by Abu’l Fazl, was the official chronicle of his reign; this manuscript is considered the earliest illustrated version of the text.
Context
River fording was a recurrent danger for Akbar’s armies, and the death of Pir Muhammad Khan reflects broader logistical challenges faced by the Mughal expansion into central India. The illustration serves both as a historical record and as a visual reinforcement of the emperor’s narrative of conquest and governance.
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…
