"Khwaja Umar Saved from Pursuers," Folio from the Hamzanama (The Adventures of Hamza)
The painting belongs to a series of illustrations of the Hamzanama (Story of Hamza), a fictional account of the adventures of the Prophet Muhammad’s uncle Amir Hamza, who seeks to convert the world to Islam. This folio depicts Umar, a loyal helper of Hamza, being saved from his pursuers by a heavenly hand which reaches out to pull him skyward. Unusually for the Hamzanama this folio displays a certain amount of European influence, seen in the billowing clouds, impressionistic blue-tinted forest and scattered bones. Kesu Das was pre-eminent among early Mughal painters to adapt these techniques from European prints and engravings that were circulating at court. This painting is like to have been composed and detailed by him, working with another anonymous artist.
Artwork Details
- Title: "Khwaja Umar Saved from Pursuers," Folio from the Hamzanama (The Adventures of Hamza)
- Artist: Attributed in part to Kesu Das (Indian, active 1570–ca.1602)
- Date: ca. 1565–70
- Geography: Country of Origin India
- Medium: Opaque color and gold on cotton cloth
- Dimensions: Image: H. 25 13/16 in. (65.5 cm)
W. 19 5/8 in. (49.8 cm)
Frame: H. 24 in. (61 cm)
W. 30 1/2 in. (77.5 cm)
D. 1 in. (2.5 cm) - Classification: Codices
- Credit Line: Howard Hodgkin Collection, Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Acquisitions, Harris Brisbane Dick, and 2020 Benefit Funds; Howard S. and Nancy Marks, Lila Acheson Wallace, and Friends of Islamic Art Gifts; Louis V. Bell, Harris Brisbane Dick, Fletcher, and Rogers Funds and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest; and funds from various donors, 2022
- Object Number: 2022.171
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
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Multiple artists/makers
931 AH/1524–25 CE
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Sultan Muhammad
ca. 1525
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Qasim ibn 'Ali
ca. 1530
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
ca. 1430–40
probably early 15th century
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