PADSHAHNAMA OF EMPEROR JAHANGIR PRESENTING PRINCE KHURRAM A FAMILY JEWEL, MUGHAL, 19TH CENTURY

Gouache pigments heightened with gold on paper, laid down on album page and decorated to the outer border with flower scrolls on a cream ground. Padshahnama or chronicle of the Emperor Shah Jahan, central figure on the picture, seated on the throne is Mughal Emperor Jahangir (reign 1605-1627), the father of Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan was at this time known by his name prince Khurram.This event is from November 1617 when Jahangir gave prince Khurram a precious and important family jewel. Present at the scene are several important members of the Mughal court, including the Prime Minister I’timaduddawla and his son Asaf Khan, Shah-Jahan’s father-in-law. The artist of this beautiful picture, known as Payag, is also present: he is in the bottom left-hand corner carrying a book. 42 by 31 cm.

CATALOGUE NOTE From the words of Jahangir himself: ‘On this day I gave my son Shah-Jahan a flawless ruby. Emperor Akbar’s mother gave me as a present at my birth. For years it was in his Emperor Akbar’s turban band and thereafter I too kept it in my turban band for good luck, since it has been a good luck charm for this eternal dynasty. It was given to my son’.