Painting
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
This Mughal painting of an unknown European was probably painted in the first half of the reign of the emperor Jahangir (1605-1627). The Western elements of the man's clothes, and the style of his European sword, are broadly dateable to the second half of the 16th century, suggesting that the anonymous Mughal artist based his painting on a Western portrait. However, the loose, voluminous trousers are the kind worn by Europeans living in India and adapting their clothes to the climate, making any conclusions about the artist's inspiration tentative. The subject's overall appearance, and the colours of his clothes, are similar to another portrait of a European in the V&A, IM 386-1914.
Read on
The painting was bought from Mr Arthur Churchill in 1913 as a portrait of Sir Thomas Roe. Roe arrived in India in 1616 as the first official English ambassador to the Mughal court, but this painting bears no resemblance to contemporary Western portraits of him.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- IM.9-1913
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
