Horses in Mughal India

iamrana — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 17:08:16 +0000

The Mughal Empire lasted from 1526 until 1857
They developed a unique Indo – Islamic style in art and architecture & this especially showed in their miniature paintings, illustrations in books and manuscripts.
Mughal artists created a unique style, drawing from Persian and Indian influences and their paintings were heavily stylized, but the stylizations were specific.
The Mughal equestrian portrait, is unique in Asian art for its fusion of Asian and European influences.
I have posted a few of the paintings from that period which are in groups, solo, in war and leisure, sport and entertainment.

The Mughal emperor Babur hunting Rhinoceros near Peshawar. Painting from the Baburnama,
Date: pre 1530

Akbar leads Mughal Army
16th c

Battle with the Hazars, from the Baburnama

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – “Akbar Hunting”,
Folio from an Akbarnama (History of Akbar)

Rustam Captures the Horse Rakhsh”, Folio from Akbar’s Shahnama (Book of Kings)

By Abu’l Qasim Firdausi

A portrait of Emperor Akbar, North India, 19th century
Gouache with gold on paper, illuminated cartouche above with inscription shabihi mubarak Jalal al-Din Muhammad Akbar Shah khalad Allah mulkahu and spurious date of 1106 AH / 1694 AD, borders of scrolling foliate tendrils in gold and blue, reverse with a page of nasta`liq calligraphy signed by Ijaz Ruqmhan, borders with bold foliate motifs in blue and gold

Jahangir
Freer and Sackler

Shah Jahan riding a stallion
By Payag and Mir Ali
1628

AN EQUESTRIAN PORTRAIT OF EMPEROR SHAH JAHAN
MUGHAL INDIA, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Gouache on paper heightened with gold, the Emperor riding a dapple gray horse and holding a falcon, with gold-speckled carboard margins, framed and glazed
Miniature 8 7/8 x 6½in.
(Christie’s)

portrait of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb mounted on a horse, and ready for battle, was originally produced in 1660-70. Aurangzeb reigned from 1658–1707.
This image is taken from Johnson Album 3, 4. As featured in the British Library exhibition, Mughal India

Dara Shikoh’s horse
By
Manohar

Ayat ul Kursi
Bijapur
1600

Unknown Artist
Title
Equestrian Portrait of a Mughal Prince on a Brown Horse
Harvard Art Museum

Ali Vardi Khan Hawking
Mughal horseman rides his horse confidently through the green countryside, raising his right arm backwards to let loose the falcon sitting on his wrist, Mughal, c. 1660.
Johnson Album 67, 2. As featured in the British Library exhibition, Mughal India:

Rama riding a horse
Rahugarh Gwalior 18th c

A horse with elaborate saddle and harness being led by a groom. On paper
18th c
British Museum

Equestrian portrait of Raja Chandu Lal (1766–1845),
Prime Minister of the Nizam of Hyderabad (1809–1843), with attendant carrying opened umbrella. Hyderabad, circa 1860-80.
Opaque watercolour with gold on wasli. 25 x 20cm (max)
Provenance: private Boston USA collection acquired before mid-1970s

The Horse Merchants of Guler
By Nainsukh
Now in the V&A

Equestrian portrait: Thakur Karan Singh Ji. Jodhpur, circa 1820.
Opaque watercolour with silver and gold on wasli.
29.8 x 21.3cm

Chand Bibi Hawking- Deccan – 28thnc

This is a traditional representation of Chand Bibi, the late sixteenth-century Queen of Ahmadnagar who defended her city against the Mughals

Horse and Groom
Artist:Attributed to Farrukh Husain
1600-1610
Deccan, Bijapur

Muraqqa e Golshan
Groom & Horse
17th c

Persian horses
16th c
British Museum

1725
Rajput
Prince on a Horse

18th c
Prince and Princess on horseback

STALLION
MARWAR, NORTH INDIA, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY
Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, facing left, its mane plaited and with yellow sashes, with elaborate saddle and saddle cloth, each with intricate scrolling patterns, its lower body painted orange and with recurring floral buds
Christie’s

horses – Rana Safvi

Horses in Mughal India