The Emperor Jahangir with Bow and Arrow

Object Details

• Court

  Mughal Court

• School/Tradition

  Mughal school

• Label

  The Mughal prince Salim assumed the title of shah before his accession in 1605 as the Emperor Jahangir, when the title padshah became legitimate. The use of that term here, together with the ruler's relative youth, suggests that this portrait was made immediately following the coronation. While an identification of the painter is not now possible, this is one of the finest known depictions of the emperor.

• Provenance

  ?-1910

  Léonce Rosenberg (1879 1947), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1910-1942

  Henri Vever (1854-1942), purchased from Léonce Rosenberg [2]

  1942-1947

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [3]

  1947-1986

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [4]

  From 1986

  National Musuem of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from Francois Mautin [5]

  Notes:

  [1] Léonce Rosenberg was an art collector, writer, publisher, and influential art dealer.

  Léonce and his younger brother, Paul (1881-1959) joined their father, Alexandre Rosenberg (d. 1913) in running the family’s art gallery, selling works of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. After their father retired, the brothers parted ways, opening their own, independent galleries. Léonce opened Haute Epoque at 19 Rue de la Baume, where he sold numerous types of works, including French antiquities, archeological pieces, and Islamic miniatures. Eventually, he became a champion of Cubist art and opened a new gallery, l’Effort Moderne.

  Vever purchased this work from Rosenberg on July 21, 1910. See Henri Vever Account Ledger, July 1910, FSA A1988.042.2, from Henri Vever Papers. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Vever describes the work as “1 miniature, indoue, portrait de prince (etui cuir).”

  [2] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. This object was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942.

  [3] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the object. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.

  [4] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This object is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 3.

  [5] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file. The work is part of the Musuem's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection.

  Research updated on May 11, 2023.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Imperial Portraits from the Mughal Courts from the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution (June 30 to September 22, 2002)

  Other Worldly Visions: Persian and Indian Paintings from the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (March 27, 1998 to May 10, 1998)

  Arts of Mughal India (1992) (May 24 to December 6, 1992)

  A Jeweler's Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection (November 20, 1988 to April 30, 1989)

  Persian and Indian Painting - Selections from a Recent Acquisition (September 28, 1987 to February 28, 1988)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Léonce Rosenberg (1879-1947)

  Henri Vever (1854-1942)

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003)

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1600s

• Name

  Mautin, Francois Albert, Monthiers, Jeanne Louise, Rosenberg, Léonce, Vever, Henri

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Henri Vever collection, Reign of Jahangir (1605 - 1627), Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), Portraits, Bow, Kings and rulers, Halo

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings