Portraits of Two Scribes Seated with Books and Writing Table Amid Gold Flowers, Section of a Margin of a Royal Album Page

Indian

1 of 2

Object Label

These exquisitely painted figures once appeared on the margins of a painting in an album made for the emperor Shah Jahan (the ruler who built the Taj Mahal). Illuminated borders were frequently used in royal albums, where they served to frame and protect a wide array of cherished paintings and calligraphies. The two seated men in this margin are either scribes or librarians: the man on the left with an open book in front of him is reciting to the man seated in the center. At the far right is a low desk with a cup, pens, and decorated manuscript pages. We do not know the location of the painting that this margin once framed. Perhaps it was damaged and only this element could be salvaged, or perhaps it was taken apart and sold in several pieces.

Caption

Indian. Portraits of Two Scribes Seated with Books and Writing Table Amid Gold Flowers, Section of a Margin of a Royal Album Page, ca. 1640–1650. Watercolor and gold on paper, 2 x 9 5/8in. (5.1 x 24.4cm) Other: 14 1/4 x 19 1/4in. (36.2 x 48.9cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.227.153. No known copyright restrictions (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.227.153_IMLS_SL2.jpg)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Asian Art

Culture

Indian

Title

Portraits of Two Scribes Seated with Books and Writing Table Amid Gold Flowers, Section of a Margin of a Royal Album Page

Date

ca. 1640–1650

Dynasty

Mughal

Geography

Place made: India

Medium

Watercolor and gold on paper

Classification

Work on Paper

Dimensions

2 x 9 5/8in. (5.1 x 24.4cm) Other: 14 1/4 x 19 1/4in. (36.2 x 48.9cm)

Credit Line

Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.

Accession Number

86.227.153

Rights

No known copyright restrictions

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