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Jahangir Entertains Shah Abbas, from the St. Petersburg Album

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At A Glance

Period

ca. 1620; borders 1746-47
Geography

India
Material

Opaque water color, gold and ink on paper
Dimension

H x W: 25 x 18.3 cm (9 13/16 x 7 3/16 in)
Accession Number

F1942.16a
EDAN ID

edanmdm:fsg_F1942.16a

Object Details

Artist

Attributed to Bishandas (active 1590-1640)
Borders

Muhammad Sadiq
Court

Mughal Court
School/Tradition

Mughal school
Label

This painting represents the Jahangir's imaginary entertainment of the Persian ruler Shah Abbas. The opulence displayed by Jahangir in this scene symbolizes the Emperor's desire to overwhelm his opponent with his wealth and power. Unfortunately, Jahangir's ambitions were not realized as Shah Abbas captured Qandahar from the Mughals in 1622, a few years after the execution of this painting.

In 1739 Nadir Shah of Iran attacked the Mughal capital at Delhi, seizing many of the best Mughal paintings and manuscript illustrations. These were mounted into albums prepared and decorated by the leading Persian artists of the day and eventually formed the compilation known today as the St. Petersburg album. (See F1945a, F1931.20, F1942.15a, F1942.17a, F1942.18a, F1994.4, F1996.a-b)
Collection

Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History

Body Image (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

Worlds within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran (July 28 to September 16, 2012)

Encompassing the Globe: Portugal and the World in the 16th and 17th Centuries (June 24 to September 16, 2007)

Arts of the Indian Subcontinent and the Himalayas (October 16, 2004 to January 3, 2016)

Masterworks of Indian Painting (December 13, 1997 to June 13, 1998)

South and South East Asian Art (May 9, 1993 to February 7, 2000)

Islamic Metalwork in the Freer Gallery of Art (September 27, 1985 to November 17, 1986)

The Arts of South Asia (May 13, 1985 to December 2, 1985)

Indian Art (January 1, 1963 to January 28, 1981)

Special Exhibition Afghanistan (September 3, 1963 to June 5, 1964)

Untitled Exhibition, South Asian Art, Gallery 8 (July 15, 1958 to January 1, 1963)

Centennial Exhibition, West Corridor (February 25, 1956 to July 11, 1958)

Untitled Exhibition, South Asian Painting, 1955 (October 24, 1955 to November 28, 1955)

Untitled Exhibition, Mughal Painting, 1947 (April 23 to September 30, 1947)

Untitled Exhibition, South Asian Paintings and Sculpture (October 2, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

Untitled Exhibition, Mughal Painting (December 20, 1944 to April 23, 1947)
Origin

India
Credit Line

Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Type

Album
Restrictions and Rights

Usage Conditions Apply

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