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"Great Hornbill", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album

Painting by Mansur
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
recto: ca. 1540; verso: ca. 1615–20
Not on view
The emperor Jahangir’s memoirs record many of the animals he encountered while on his annual peregrinations, and the reasons he wanted studies of them to be painted. While we do not have such notes for this painting, we can imagine that Jahangir was intrigued by the creature’s size, with a wingspan of up to five feet, and by the loud droning noise it emitted, audible a mile away.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Great Hornbill", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
  • Artist: Painting by Mansur (active ca. 1589–1626)
  • Calligrapher: Mir 'Ali Haravi (died ca. 1550)
  • Date: recto: ca. 1540; verso: ca. 1615–20
  • Geography: Attributed to India
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm)
    W. 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund and The Kevorkian Foundation Gift, 1955
  • Object Number: 55.121.10.14
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
"Red-Headed Vulture and Long-Billed Vulture", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Mansur, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Red-Headed Vulture and Long-Billed Vulture", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Painting by Mansur
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
verso: ca. 1615–20; recto: ca. 1535–45
Pierced Window Screen (Jali), Red sandstone; pierced, carved
Pierced Window Screen (Jali)
second half 16th century
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Govardhan, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Painting by Govardhan
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
verso: ca. 1630; recto: ca. 1530–50
"Study of a Nilgai (Blue Bull)", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Mansur, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Study of a Nilgai (Blue Bull)", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Painting by Mansur
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
verso: ca. 1620; recto ca. 1540
"Shah Jahan on a Terrace, Holding a Pendant Set With His Portrait", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Chitarman Indian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Shah Jahan on a Terrace, Holding a Pendant Set With His Portrait", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Painted by Chitarman
recto: dated 1627–28; verso: ca. 1530–50

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