"Four Portraits: (upper left) A Raja (Perhaps Raja Sarang Rao), by Balchand; (upper right) 'Inayat Khan, by Daulat; (lower left) 'Abd al-Khaliq, probably by Balchand; (lower right) Jamal Khan Qaravul, by Murad", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
recto: ca. 1610–15; verso: dated 1541
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Overall page: H. 15 3/16 in. (38.6 cm) W. 10 3/16 in. (25.9 cm) Painting inside border: H. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm) W. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm) All four portraits: H. 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm) W. 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm) Portrait (top left): Ht. 5 5/16 in. (13.5 cm) W. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm) Portrait (top right): Ht. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm) W. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm) Portrait (bottom left): Ht. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm) W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm) Portrait (bottom right): Ht. 4 7/16 in. (11.3 cm) W. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 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
55.121.10.29
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio from the Shah Jahan Album features four intimate portraits of Mughal-era notables: a raja (possibly Raja Sarang Rao) Balchand in the left, 'Inayat by Daulat in the right, 'Abd alhaliq (likely by Balchand) in the lower left, and Khan Qaravul by Murad in the lower. Created in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper around 1610–15 (recto) with a verso dated 1541 it exemplifies the refined miniature painting tradition of the Mughal court. Collected during Emperor Shah Jahan's reign (1628–1658), such albums preserved prized artworks, blending portraits from earlier emperors like Humayun and Jahangir. These small-scale portraits (each about 5 inches tall) capture the sitters' dignified expressions and detailed attire, showcasing the artists' mastery of individualized likenesses—a hallmark of Mughal portraiture. Balchand, Daulat, and Murad were leading court painters known for their precision in rendering faces, jewelry, and fabrics with vibrant pigments and subtle gold highlights. The technique of opaque watercolor allowed for luminous, jewel-like effects on paper, making these works portable treasures for elite patrons. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department, this folio highlights the cultural fusion of Persian influences and Indian sensibilities in 16th- and 17th-century South Asia, offering a window into the opulent world of Mughal nobility.
About the Artist
Balachand|Daulat|Murad ( |Indian| ) · |1570 | – |1660 |
active 1595–ca. 1650|Indian, active ca. 1595–1635|