Khwaja Umar saved from pursuers

Unique in Mughal painting in its ambition and freedom of expression, the Hamzanama contains many pages of great verve. Here the lanky Umar, arch-trickster and loyal helper of Hamza, is magically saved from his pursuers by a heavenly hand. He sails aloft against dramatic cloud effects, which like the ‘hand of God’ and the scattered skulls and bones, are adapted from European painting sources.

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