Fakir Khan, Mirza Iftikhar, Mirza Muhammad Azam, Mirza Khuda Bakhsh, and Mirza Khudabad on a floral rug on a terrace with trees behind.

Portrait of Fakir Khan and His Sons, c. 1690

Unknown artist, expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

Fakir Khan, shown seated here with his four sons, was a member of Shah Jahan's court (reigned 1627-58) at Delhi; each sitter is identified in Persian. Royal portraiture was introduced to India with the Mughal conquest in the sixteenth century. Many of these idealized portraits reveal subtle modes of representation through which Indian rulers reasserted their power and achievements. For instance, Fakir Khan's royal status is conveyed by the subtle aureole behind his head, while the family's political importance is indicated by the ceremonial swords, daggers, and shields each member possesses. Finally, the hierarchy within the family is indicated by the size of each figure; the sons are otherwise all treated as miniature adults, with little indication of age based on facial features.

Details
Title
Portrait of Fakir Khan and His Sons
Role
Artist
Accession Number
89.107
Curator Approved

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Fakir Khan, Mirza Iftikhar, Mirza Muhammad Azam, Mirza Khuda Bakhsh, and Mirza Khudabad on a floral rug on a terrace with trees behind.