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Portrait of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Last Mughal Emperor

ca. 1855–58
Not on view
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.
Europeanized in its full-face pose and modeling, this portrait depicts the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II (r.1837–58). For his nominal leadership of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the poetry-minded king was deposed by the British and died in exile in Burma (Myanmar).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Portrait of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Last Mughal Emperor
  • Date: ca. 1855–58
  • Geography: Country of Origin India
  • Medium: Gouache and watercolor on paper
  • Dimensions: Image: H. 14 3/16 in. (36 cm)
    W. 9 7/16 in. ( 24 cm)
    Frame: H. 19 5/8 in. (49.8 cm)
    W. 14 5/8 in. (37.1 cm)
    D. 15/16 in. ( 2.4 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: The Howard Hodgkin Collection, on loan from the Howard Hodgkin Indian Collection Trust
  • Object Number: L.2022.31.7
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art