The Arrival of a Prince

Object Details

• Artist

  Jan Quli

• School/Tradition

  Deccani school

• Label

  When northern India was under Mughal control, the Deccan plateau of the south was ruled by a series of Muslim sultans, among whom the Adil Shahi sultans of Bijapur (reigned circa 1557-1687) were prominent. The Deccan sultans were Sh'iah Muslims and allied themselves with the Sh'iah Safavid rulers of Iran, while the Mughals were of more orthodox Sunni affiliation.

• Provenance

  At least 1944-1952

  H. Kevorkian, New York NY, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1952-1954

  Kevorkian Foundation (established 1951), New York, NY, transferred from H. Kevorkian [2]

  From 1954

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from the Kevorkian Foundation through Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962) [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See

  Cleveland Museum of Art, “Islamic Art: Selected Examples from the Loan Exhibition of Islamic Art at the Cleveland Museum of Art” [exhibition catalogue], (Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, November 1944-Feburary 1945), p. 22, illustrated (detail). Described as being “Lent by H. Kevorkian.”

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962) was a dealer and collector of Islamic Art with eponymous galleries in New York and Paris.

  [2] See also object list titled “Works of Art at Freer Gallery of Art Washington, DC,” undated (ca. December 30, 1952), copy in object file. The object list is typed on “The Kevorkian Foundation” letterhead. The object was transferred from the Kevorkian Foundation, New York, NY, to the Freer Gallery of Art for acquisition consideration on December 30, 1952. Object is listed as dealer stock number 4f and is described as “Small miniature drawing by Qouli Khan.”

  Research indicates that the Kevorkian Foundation’s objects were transferred from Hagop Kevorkian’s gallery’s stock and later from his personal collection.

  [3] See object file for copy of the Kevorkian Foundation invoice to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated July 1, 1954, and marked approved on February 25, 1953. Object is described as, “Miniature by Quil Jan, Iran, late 16th century.”

  Research updated January 9, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Body Image (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

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

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

  The Imperial Image: Painting for the Mughal Court (September 25, 1981 to 30 March 1982)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 6 and 7 (February 25, 1956 to April 10, 1962)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)

  Kevorkian Foundation (established 1951)

• Origin

  Bijapur, Maharashtra state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1590s, 1600s

• Name

  Kevorkian, Hagop, Kevorkian Foundation

• Place

  Bijapur, Maharashtra state, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Prince, Art, Fly whisk, Adil Shahi dynasty (1489 - 1686)

• Culture

  Dervishes, Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings