Artwork
Inayat Khan
Inayat Khan is a paint painting by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work is an opaque watercolor with gold applied to paper, portraying Inayat Khan. Executed around 1615, it is a later reproduction of an earlier 17th‑century portrait attributed to the artist known as Daulat the Elder. The composition places the figure against a plain, dark backdrop, highlighted by vivid, patterned clothing and decorative borders.
Subject & Meaning
In the image, Khan stands holding a small object in his left hand, accompanied by two cranes. A 1961 correspondence identifies the birds as Tibetan cranes, a less common motif than the Indian sarus crane, suggesting a specific symbolic or cultural reference tied to the sitter’s status or affiliations.
Technique & Style
The painting employs an opaque watercolor medium, allowing for rich, saturated hues, while gold leaf accents outline the floral and curvilinear motifs that frame the scene. The figure’s attire—bright white, orange, and blue patterns—contrasts sharply with the muted background, creating a stage‑like effect that emphasizes the subject’s formal presentation.
History & Provenance
The portrait entered the public collection through the 1920 bequest of Harriet Sarah, Baroness Wantage. Its attribution to a copy of Daulat the Elder’s original situates it within the broader tradition of Mughal court portraiture, reflecting the artistic practices of early 17th‑century India.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
