The Princes Of The House Of Timur

Mehran DHN · 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) Probably the earliest and most important of all of Humayun’s paintings is a unique large picture on cotton cloth, the ‘Princes of the House of Timur’, with Humayun as the central figure in an outdoor setting with a hilly backdrop and a golden sky. This was produced for the emperor around 1550 and would have been hung in the royal tent during the years that Humayun was constantly on the move. Here, the depiction of a historical event in Humayun’s life already establishes a distinct interest of Mughal painting away from the representation of literary subjects of Safavid painting.  Emperor Jahangir, Humayun’s grandson, ordered an extensive overpainting of the picture including inserting his father Akbar’s and his own image and repainting at least part of most figures. A prince standing facing Jahangir seems to be a depiction of Dara Shukoh. These interventions created the earliest dynastic painting of the Mughals, which attempts to weave a mythological aura around the family’s Timurid connection. Inscriptio: Inscription type: inscription Inscription position: above seated and standing figures Inscription language: Persian Inscription transliteration: 'Mirza Kamran', Humayun Badsha', 'Barbur Shah', 'Shaykh Omar', 'Sultan Abu Said', 'Sultan Muhammad' and 'Miran Shah' ( figures on the left) Inscription on Sultan Abu Said's garment 'Bichitr'. Inscription on Barbur's garment 'Govardhana'. Inscription on Shaykh Omar's garment 'Dawlat'. 'Mohan' and 'Nanha' on knee of violet robe worn by Sultan Muhammad and on orange sleeve of figure labelled Miran Shah. 'Abu Bakr Mirza', 'Baisunghur Mirza' and 'Mirza Shah Rukh' (seated figures on the right) 'Sultan Parviz' (standing figure outside the pavilion on the left) 'Shah Jahan' (Seated inside the pavilion opposite Humayun) 'Hiranand' and 'Inayat' inscriptions on robes of the two servants behind the five seated figures. 'Balchand' on orange legging of the sevant in violet straining to lift a platter in the upper left.