"Shah Jahan on a Terrace, Holding a Pendant Set With His Portrait", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
recto: dated 1627–28; verso: ca. 1530–50
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 15 5/16 in. (38.9 cm) W. 10 1/8 in. (25.7 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
55.121.10.24
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio from the *Shah Jahan Album*, titled *"Shah Jahan on a Terrace, Holding a Pendant Set With His Portrait"*, showcases the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628–58) rendered by the court artist Chitarman in 1627–28 on the recto. Depicting the young prince poised elegantly on a terrace, cradling a pendant bearing his own likeness, it captures a moment of regal poise and self-reflection. The verso features an earlier work from ca. 1530–50, highlighting the album's role as a curated treasury of imperial art. Created during the golden age of Mughal painting under Shah Jahan's patronage, this piece exemplifies the empire's fusion of Persian and Indian traditions. Chitarman's meticulous style emphasizes naturalistic portraiture, with fine ink outlines, vibrant opaque watercolors, and shimmering gold accents on paper—techniques that brought unprecedented realism to royal depictions. At 15 5/16 × 10 1/8 inches, its intimate scale suited album viewing among elites. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department, this codex folio underscores the cultural prestige of Mughal ateliers, where portraits served as tools of power and legacy. Visitors will appreciate how it immortalizes Shah Jahan, the visionary behind the Taj Mahal, in a medium blending artistry with dynastic pride.
About the Artist
Chitarman · 1627–1670
Indian, active ca. 1627–70