recto: "Portrait of Raja Suraj Singh Rathor", verso: Page of Calligraphy. Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
recto: late 16th century; verso: ca. 1640
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 15 1/4 in. (38. 7 cm) W. 10 1/16 in. (25.6 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Rogers Fund and The Kevorkian Foundation Gift, 1955
Accession Number
55.121.10.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio from the Shah J Album, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art collection, showcases the pinnacle of Mughal miniature painting and calligraphy. On the recto, Bishan Das, a master portraitist active in the late 16 century at the Mughal court, depicts Raja Suraj Singh Rathor, a Rajput ruler. Rendered in ink, opaque watercolor, and on paper, the portrait captures the raja's regal poise with remarkable realism and intricate detailing—hallmarks of the Mughal style that blended Persian finesse with Indian vitality. Such works symbolized alliances between the Mugha...
About the Artist
Bishan Das|Mir 'Ali Haravi ( | ) · |1525 – |1575
|died ca. 1550