Emperor Babur with Attendants in a Garden

Object Details

• Court

  Mughal Court

• School/Tradition

  Mughal school

• Label

  The central figure in this composition has been identified as Babur, the second Mughal emperor (reigned 1526-30). An avid naturalist, Babur commissioned numerous gardens outside fortresses and citadels to symbolize his claim over his newly conquered domain. In this drawing, the rocky mountains of the background suggest a relatively untamed setting for the garden, which is dominated by a canopied platform. Placed at the intersection of a small pool and four water channels, the structure serves much like a throne, the definitive emblem of royal power and sovereignty.

• Provenance

  ?-1952

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

  1952-1954

  Kevorkian Foundation (established 1951), New York, NY, transferred from H. Kevorkian [1]

  From 1954

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from the Kevorkian Foundation through Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962) [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See 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.

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

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

  [2] 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 listed as dealer stock number 10f and is described as, “Mughal painting, Emperor Babur, signed Haydar Mirza.”

  Research updated January 9, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  East of Eden: Gardens in Asian Art (February 24 to May 13, 2007)

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

  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)

  The Brush of the Masters: Drawings from India (October 14, 1978 to May 15, 1979)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)

  Kevorkian Foundation (established 1951)

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1590s, 1580s

• Name

  Kevorkian, Hagop, Kevorkian Foundation

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), Gardens, Kings and rulers, Attendant

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings