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Lot Essay
‘Ali Jal is dressed in Akbari fashion of the late 16th century with a flat turban, a simple diaphanous chakdar (four-cornered) jama, his patka tied around his waist in an Akbari style, and bright orange pajama trousers.
Darab Khan is depicted wearing a Jahangiri turban and a double patka in the Jahangiri style, a plain white sash along with an ornamental one. Although both figures are dressed in Mughal fashion, the plain dark backgrounds and the palette comprising purple tones, acid green and resplendent orange suggest a Deccani origin for these two portraits.
Although not enough is known about ‘Ali Jal, represented here with a sword and a katar tucked into his patka, he was probably a Mughal officer in Akbar’s army who was sent to fight in the Deccan. Darab Khan was an important noble at the court of Jahangir and is mentioned several times in the Tuzuk-i Jahangiri (Memoirs of Jahangir). He was the son of ‘Abdul Rahim the Khankhanan, and the brother of Shahnawaz Khan, both with military ties to the Deccan. ‘Abdul Rahim, known for his love of poetry and the arts, was one of the most important successful officers in Akbar’s army and represented the Mughal empire in the Deccan for several years. Shahnawaz Khan held the post of governor of Berar and Ahmednagar. After Shahnawaz Khan was killed, Jahangir gave the post to Darab Khan and sent him south to join his father. For another early 17th century portrait of Darab Khan as a young man, see B.N. Goswamy and U. Bhatia, Painted Visions – The Goenka Collection of Indian Painting, New Delhi, 1999, no. 51, pg. 65.
Darab Khan is depicted wearing a Jahangiri turban and a double patka in the Jahangiri style, a plain white sash along with an ornamental one. Although both figures are dressed in Mughal fashion, the plain dark backgrounds and the palette comprising purple tones, acid green and resplendent orange suggest a Deccani origin for these two portraits.
Although not enough is known about ‘Ali Jal, represented here with a sword and a katar tucked into his patka, he was probably a Mughal officer in Akbar’s army who was sent to fight in the Deccan. Darab Khan was an important noble at the court of Jahangir and is mentioned several times in the Tuzuk-i Jahangiri (Memoirs of Jahangir). He was the son of ‘Abdul Rahim the Khankhanan, and the brother of Shahnawaz Khan, both with military ties to the Deccan. ‘Abdul Rahim, known for his love of poetry and the arts, was one of the most important successful officers in Akbar’s army and represented the Mughal empire in the Deccan for several years. Shahnawaz Khan held the post of governor of Berar and Ahmednagar. After Shahnawaz Khan was killed, Jahangir gave the post to Darab Khan and sent him south to join his father. For another early 17th century portrait of Darab Khan as a young man, see B.N. Goswamy and U. Bhatia, Painted Visions – The Goenka Collection of Indian Painting, New Delhi, 1999, no. 51, pg. 65.