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Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings, illustration from the St
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Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings, illustration from the St
1074062 Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings, illustration from the St. Petersburg Album, c.1615-18 (w/c, ink & gold on paper)
by Bichtir (fl. 1620); 48x33 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, USA; (add.info.: Around 1615 Jahangirs artists begin to create allegorical portraits with symbolic references. This painting asserts that Jahangir favours the spiritual over the worldly. He hands a book, the most respected of objects in both Islam and the Mughal court, to a Sufi shaykh (a religious scholar). Below (and therefore implicitly less important than) the shaykh stand an Ottoman sultan and King James I of England. Bichtirs self-portrait in the lower left corner conveys the respect that Jahangir accorded to painters. Nur-ud-din Mohammad Salim, known by his imperial name Jahangir (1569-1627), was the fourth Mughal Emperor of India who ruled from 1605 until his death in 1627. (1569-1627) margins 1747-48); eFreer Slacker Gallery; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution; Indian, out of copyright
Media ID 22506278
© Freer Slacker Gallery Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution / Bridgeman Images
Album Dynasty English King Enthroned Jahangir Mughal Pedestal Petersburg Regal Regalia Respect Reverence Sage Sheikh Stylised Sufi Preferring Shaikh
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The captivating print titled "Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings" captures the essence of spiritual devotion and the power of faith. Created by Bichtir in the early 17th century, this illustration from the St. Petersburg Album showcases Jahangir, the fourth Mughal Emperor of India, demonstrating his preference for matters of spirituality over worldly affairs. In this symbolic artwork, Jahangir is depicted handing a book to a Sufi shaykh, emphasizing his reverence for knowledge and religious scholars. The book holds immense significance in both Islam and Mughal court culture, representing wisdom and enlightenment. Positioned below the revered shaykh are an Ottoman sultan and King James I of England, subtly highlighting their inferiority compared to spiritual leaders. This painting conveys Jahangir's belief that true power lies not in political authority but in one's connection with divinity. Notably, Bichtir includes his self-portrait in the lower left corner as an expression of respect accorded to painters by Jahangir himself. This inclusion signifies how artists were valued within Mughal society during that era. With its intricate details rendered through watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, this artwork offers viewers a glimpse into Jahangir's mindset as he navigated between temporal rule and spiritual introspection. Housed at the Freer Gallery of Art within Smithsonian Institution in Washington D. C. , this masterpiece continues to inspire contemplation about the balance between secular power and transcendent truths throughout history.
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