Artwork

An Illuminated Folio from the Royal Manuscript of the Farhang-i Jahangiri (recto)

An Illuminated Folio from the Royal Manuscript of the Farhang-i Jahangiri (recto) is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1608 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Look up more about the court of Jahangir (1605–1627) to see how art and power mixed in Mughal India.

You see a single page from a royal dictionary, painted in bright reds, blues, and golds. Tiny Persian script fills the center, while a border of flowers and vines frames it like a garden.

This book wasn’t just for words—it was a gift to Emperor Jahangir, who loved art and learning. The painter worked in his court, blending Persian and Indian styles. The gold leaf makes the page glow, even after 400 years.

Look up more about the court of Jahangir (1605–1627) to see how art and power mixed in Mughal India.

Overview

This illuminated folio is a page from the Royal Manuscript of the Farhang-i Jahangiri, a comprehensive Persian dictionary compiled by Mir Jamal al-Din Husayn Inju.

Subject & Meaning

The dictionary contains over 9,000 entries with definitions and examples from Persian poetry, reflecting the cultural and literary heritage of the time.

Technique & Style

The page features intricate Persian script surrounded by a border of flowers and vines, executed in vibrant reds, blues, and golds, blending Persian and Indian artistic styles.

History & Provenance

Compiled over twelve years, the dictionary was presented to Mughal Emperor Jahangir, who ruled from 1605 to 1627, and was likely created by a painter in his court.

Context

The artwork reflects the cultural patronage and artistic synthesis characteristic of Jahangir's court, where Persian and Indian influences merged.