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"Spotted Forktail", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album

Painting by Abu'l Hasan Indian
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
recto: ca. 1610–15; verso ca. 1540
Not on view
Jahangir (r. 1605–27) ordered this portrait of a spotted forktail from Abu'l Hasan, the artist upon whom he bestowed the honorific title "Wonder of the Age." The inscription states that the emperor’s servants hunted this particular bird but does not say whether they killed it or merely captured it before it was portrayed. The silk ground adds a particular luster to the painting, further enhanced by the bird’s shiny eye, which contains glittering chips of a reflective material, probably mica.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Spotted Forktail", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
  • Artist: Painting by Abu'l Hasan (Indian, born ca. 1588/89, active 1600–1628)
  • Calligrapher: Mir 'Ali Haravi (died ca. 1550)
  • Date: recto: ca. 1610–15; verso ca. 1540
  • Geography: Attributed to India
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on silk
  • Dimensions: H. 15 3/16 in. (38.6 cm)
    W. 10 3/8 in. (26.3 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund and The Kevorkian Foundation Gift, 1955
  • Object Number: 55.121.10.15
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
'Unwan from the Shah Jahan Album, Mir 'Ali Haravi, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
'Unwan from the Shah Jahan Album
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
recto: ca. 1630–40; verso: ca. 1540
"A King Offers to Make Amends to a Bereaved Mother", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, Amir Khusrau Dihlavi Indian, Main support: Ink, opaque watercolor, gold on paper<br/>Margins: Gold on dyed paper
"A King Offers to Make Amends to a Bereaved Mother", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
Author Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
Painting attributed to Miskin
1597–98
Wine Drinking in a Spring Garden, Opaque watercolor and gold on undyed silk
Wine Drinking in a Spring Garden
ca. 1430
Rosette Bearing the Name and Title of Emperor Aurangzeb (Recto), from the Shah Jahan Album, Mir 'Ali Haravi, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Rosette Bearing the Name and Title of Emperor Aurangzeb (Recto), from the Shah Jahan Album
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
recto: ca. 1658; verso: ca. 1630–40
"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

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