Shamsa (sunburst) with portrait of Aurangzeb (1618-1707), from the Emperor's Album (the Kevorkian Album)

illumination 1640–55; original portrait c. 1640–50; altered after 1658

Bichitr

Bichitr (Indian, active c. 1615–50)

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Shamsa (sunburst) with portrait of Aurangzeb (1618-1707), from the Emperor's Album (the Kevorkian Album), illumination 1640–55; original portrait c. 1640–50; altered after 1658. Probably by Bichitr (Indian, active c. 1615–50). Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; page: 40 x 27.7 cm (15 3/4 x 10 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection 2013.331 Tooling the gold cloud motif with pinpricks makes it catch more light and shimmer.

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Bichitr
Classification: Painting
Formatted Medium: opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Medium: opaque, watercolor, gold, paper
Dimensions: Page: 40 x 27.7 cm (15 3/4 x 10 7/8 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: inscribed below Shamsa: Padshah Jahan; inscribed below portrait : 'amal-i Bichitr Inscription: Persian inscription below shamsa (sunburst), in nasta‘liq script: Great King Shah Jahan Inscription: Persian inscription below portrait, in nasta‘liq script: the work of Bichitr
Departments: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Accession Number: 2013.331
Credit Line: Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection
Exhibitions: Art and Stories from Mughal India, Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 245); December 31, 2013 - June 30, 2014.<br><br>The Cleveland Museum of Art (7/31/2016-10/23/2016); Art and Stories from Mughal India, cat. 58, p. 237-38.
Rights Statement: CC0