Attendants at an imperial durbar

This right half of a double-page composition was probably made for a manuscript of the Padshahnama, the official history of Shah Jahan’s reign. In the left page, the emperor would receive the Persian ambassador in a durbar assembly. Here lesser grandees and court attendants are assembled, including several Persians on the left in their Safavid turbans. Two imperial elephants with their youthful riders are also present. Musicians play over the gateway above.

To view a high-resolution version of this image and for further information please visit the Yousef Jameel Online Centre at the Ashmolean.