Portrait of Abu'l Hasan, the Last Sultan of Golconda
late 17th-early 18th century
Minuchihr
Asian Art
This portrait depicts Abu\'l Hasan, the last sultan of the Qutb-Shahi dynasty of Golconda, a kingdom in the Deccan (central southern India) that was much celebrated for its refusal to bow to the Mughal emperors. The sultan is shown with a radiant gold nimbus, a convention of Deccani portraits of rulers. The Mughals finally conquered Golconda after a long siege, and Abu\'l Hasan spent the last 17 years of his life in confinement. It is likely that this portrait was created after his death; it clearly celebrates him as a great ruler rather than as a defeated captive. This painting has lost the decorative margin papers that once framed it, leaving the blank edges of the page visible.
- Maker/Artist
- Minuchihr
- Classification
- Painting
- Formatted Medium
- Opaque watercolors and gold on paper
- Medium
- opaque, watercolors, gold, paper
- Locations
- Place made: Deccan, Telengara, India
- Dimensions
- sheet: 11 3/4 x 7 5/8 in. (29.8 x 19.4 cm) image: 8 x 5 1/4 in. (20.3 x 13.3 cm)
- Inscribed
- Signature at lower left reads: "Amal Minuchihr" ("a work of Minuchihr")
- Departments
- Asian Art
- Accession Number
- 86.227.50
- Credit Line
- Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.
- Rights Statement
- No known copyright restrictions
- Museum Location
- This item is not on view
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