A Sultan of Ahmadnagar, probably Ali l'Adilshah (1557-80), Deccani miniature, c. 1600 (Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris)
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Goetz, Hermann
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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On the reverse of this picture are several inscriptions in Persian and 3 seals. An inscription in the centre reads Burhan Nizam al-Mulk. This is presumably in a Mughal hand, since the Mughals never recognized the royal title of the Deccan rulers ... Below this some discerning connoisseur has written the earliest work of Deccan ... Since this picture would be dated about 1600 irrespective of its subject, we may consider it a portrait of Burhan II and not an ideal one of his ancestor Burhan I (1509-53). Burhan, imprisoned by his elder brother Murtaza I in Shivner in 1569, after an unsuccessful rebellion fled to Malwa and then to Akbar's court in 1583. In 1585 he joined the unsuccessful Mughal attack on Berar as an amir of Akbar. From Malwa he entered Berar again in 1589, and was again defeated. Finally, with support of Ibrahim II of Bijapur and Raja Ali Khan of Khandesh, he regained his kingdom, defeating the puppet ruler, his own son, on 7 May 1591. When he came to the throne B. was 31 or 33, which is about the age at which he is portrayed here. [continued on a second card:] Burhan, seated on this throne, is offering gold to a courtier. A sword-bearer fans the king with a white cloth, and a young page offers him pan. Both are Abyssinains, who were much favoured by the Deccan rulers. The men wear the enchanting costume of the Deccan, the scarlet or blue-green of their pyjamas muted to apricot or milky jade by the fine cotton coats. The boy wears a six-pointed coat fashionable at Akbar's court. All three attendants affect the painted and gold embroidered court girdle (patka) for which the Deccan, especially Golconda, was famous. This is the first Deccani painting to show the face not in profile but in three-quarter view
it is curious how the further eye projects, as in the older manuscript tradition. Burhan had a fine library which was captured by the Mughals at the fall of Ahmadnagar in 1600. This picture may well have formed part of the loot.
it is curious how the further eye projects, as in the older manuscript tradition. Burhan had a fine library which was captured by the Mughals at the fall of Ahmadnagar in 1600. This picture may well have formed part of the loot.
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Archives Series
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1959
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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