Padshahnamah fol. 51r
(plate 11)

Mughal courtiers and musicians during a durbar ceremony.

This painting appears in the Padshahnamah manuscript opposite a scene depicting a durbar ceremony at the time of Shah-Jahan’s accession (RCIN 1005025.k). Like another painting in the manuscript by the same artist (RCIN 1005025.i), it shows a Mughal imperial elephant and royal standard that traditionally accompanied princes as they entered the court; gift horses in embroidered trappings; and the nawbat, the official orchestra which provided a constant aural accompaniment to the Mughal durbar ceremony. The Padshahnamah text does not mention an exchange of grand gifts during the ceremony depicted in the painting opposite and it is likely that this painting was not originally intended to form its pair.

The artist Ramdas wrote his name in Devanagari script on the folder held by the figure dressed in white on the far right of the scene, presumably a self-portrait of the artist.

Bibliography:
Milo Beach and Ebba Koch, King of the world : the Padshahnama, an imperial Mughal manuscript from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, 1996
Saqib Baburi, Beyond the Akbarnamah: Padshahnamahs and Official Regnal Chronography for Shah-Jahan Padshah (r. 1037/1628-1068/1658), 2010.