The Princes of the House of Timur

MehranDHN · 1550-01-01T00:00:00Z

Painting depicting a feast in a garden pavilion. A Persian style landscape with a gold sky, trees, birds and figures in the background who are preparing food and bringing it over to serve guests. The central figure seated in the pavilion is Humayun, facing him are Akbar, Janhangir and Shah Jahan (who are later additions). Just outside the pavilion to the left is Sultan Parviz and in the corresponding position on the right is Prince Khusrau. The three figures seated on the right of the pavilion are: Abu Bakr, Baisunghur and Shah Rukh. The five figures seated diagonally on the left, moving towards the pavilion are: Babur, ʿUmar Shaykh Mirza, Sultan Abu Said Mirza, Sultan Muhammad Mirza and Miran Shah. Small inscriptions appear beside each figure. Painted in gouache on cloth (cotton). In this celebrated painting produced by Mughal artists of different generations, the Mughal emperor Humayun, surrounded by his Timurid ancestors, receives his descendants. These include the emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Although the Mughal dynasty (1526–1858) flourished in India, its founder, Babur, initially ruled in Central Asia before being forced out of the region. This grandiose scene illustrating Timurid-Mughal genealogy emphasises the great regard in which the Mughals held their ancestors. Additions were made in India about 1605 and 1628.