Detail from "The weighing of Shah Jahan on his forty
second birthday", Padshahnama or The Chronicles of
the King of the World, Agra, 1635
In the 1630s, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan,
builder of the Taj Mahal, commissioned a grand book
to record the splendours of his reign. It was meant to
be illustrated in the miniature style by the finest
artists of the imperial atelier. This grand book was
rather immodesty called the Padshahnama.
Shown here is the joy of the celebration of His
Imperial Majesty's birthday. The ten beautiful dancers
are accompanied by multiple musicians playing
Indian instruments as well as those introduced from
West Asia. Our beauties here sway gracefully in a
semi circular formation. They are attired in fine and
brightly coloured silks, brocades, muslins and
adorned with earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings and
anklets. Truly a tour de force of colour, composition
and dizzying details!
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