A Royal Entertainment

Maker(s)
Artist: Attributed here to Sur Das
Historical period(s)
Mughal dynasty, Reign of Akbar, ca. 1600
Movement
Mughal Court
School
Mughal School
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 17 x 11.4 cm (6 11/16 x 4 1/2 in)
Geography
India
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1960.27
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Album, Painting
Type

Album leaf with painting

Keywords
antelope, attendant, courtier, fly whisk, India, Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), prince, Reign of Akbar (1556 - 1605), vina
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

A young prince sits surrounded by his courtiers —a swordbearer, a poet (with a book) and musicians. An inscription on the reverse side identifies this figure as Jahangir, as Salim was known after he became emperor. The painter Sur Das, one of the most accomplished and prolific artists of Akbar's atelier, favored strong colors and clear shapes.

Published References
  • Milo Cleveland Beach. The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court. Exh. cat. Washington, 1981. cat. 21, pp. 88, 193.
  • Milo Cleveland Beach. The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court., 2nd ed. Washington and Ahmedabad, India, 2012. cat. 27, p. 155.
Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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