Kublai Khan and His Empress Enthroned, from a Jami al-Twarikh (or Chingiznama)

Object Details

• Author

  Jami (died 1492)

• Designer

  Kesu Kalan (active ca. 1570–1604)

• Artist

  Kesu Kalan (active ca. 1570–1604)

  Kamali Chela

• Court

  Mughal Court

• School/Tradition

  Mughal school

• Provenance

  1596

  Akbar (1542-1605; reign 1556-1605), by commission [1]

  1596-1739

  Mughal Library, Delhi, India, under Muhammad Shah (1702-1748; reign 1719-1748) [2]

  1739-?

  Imperial Library, Tehran, under Nadir Shah (1688-1747; reign 1736-1747) and subsequent rulers of Iran, Nadir Shah had paintings and manuscripts taken from the Mughal library during his invasion of Delhi, India [3]

  ?-at least 1952

  H. Kevorkian, New York NY, method of acquisition unknown [4]

  At least 1952-1954

  Kevorkian Foundation (established 1951), New York, NY, transferred from H. Kevorkian [5]

  From 1954

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from the Kevorkian Foundation through Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962) [6]

  Notes:

  [1] See Milo Beach, “The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court,” (Washington, DC and Ahmedabad, India: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Mapin International Inc., 2012), cat. 12, pp. 81-82.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] During the invasion of Delhi, India in 1739, Nadir Shah had luxury goods, including paintings and manuscripts, taken from the Mughal library during the reign of Muhammad Shah.

  [4] 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.

  [5] 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.

  [6] 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 28f and is described as an “Early Mughal miniature depicting Koubla Khan [sic, Kublai Khan].”

  Research updated January 18, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

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

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

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Akbar (reigned 1556-1605)

  Muhammad Shah (1702-1748; reign 1719-1748)

  Mughal Library

  Nadir Shah (1688-1747; reign 1736-1747)

  Imperial Library (Tehran)

  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

• Name

  Shah, Nadir, Imperial Library (Tehran), Kevorkian, Hagop, Muhammad Shah, Mughal Library, Kevorkian Foundation, Akbar

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Empress, Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), Reign of Akbar (1556 - 1605), Kings and rulers, Throne

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings