Sultan Muhammad 'Adil Shah and Ikhlas Khan Riding an Elephant
ca. 1645
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Frame: 17 3/16 × 22 3/16 × 3/4 in. (43.6 × 56.3 × 1.9 cm) Image: 11 1/4 × 12 5/8 in. (28.6 × 32 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Howard Hodgkin Collection, Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Acquisitions, Harris Brisbane Dick, and 2020 Benefit Funds; Howard S. and Nancy Marks, Lila Acheson Wallace, and Friends of Islamic Art Gifts; Louis V. Bell, Harris Brisbane Dick, Fletcher, and Rogers Funds and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest; and funds from various donors, 2022
Accession Number
2022.198
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *Sultan MuhammadAdil Shah and Ik Khan Riding an Elephant*, a captivating Deccani miniature painted around 1645 by the master artists Haidar 'Ali and Ibrahim Khan. This jewel-like work on paper captures the Adil Shahi ruler of Bijapur—Sultan Muhammad 'Adil Shah—and his trusted noble Ikhlas Khan atop a majestic elephant, symbolizing royal authority and grandeur in 17th-century South India. Elephants, revered as emblems of power and divinity in Indian courts, dominate the composition, their ornate howdahs glittering with gold. Created during the peak of the Bijapur Sultanate's cultural flourishing under Muslim rule, the painting reflects the Deccani style's blend of Persian finesse and local vibrancy. The sultan, who reigned from 1627 to 1656, patronized such opulent arts, fostering a courtly world where miniatures illustrated histories, epics, and royal exploits. Classified as a codex page, it likely originated from a luxurious manuscript or album, showcasing the era's diplomatic and martial pomp. Haidar 'Ali and Ibrahim Khan employed ink outlines, vibrant opaque watercolors, and lavish gold accents—hallmarks of Indo-Islamic painting—to achieve luminous depth and intricate details. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art collection, this piece invites visitors to marvel at how art immortalized the splendor of Deccani royalty.
About the Artist
Haidar 'Ali|Ibrahim Khan (Indian| ) · |1620 – |1670
Indian|Indian