Cleveland Museum of Art

Portrait of Emperor Alamgir (Aurangzeb)

Date: c. 1700
Medium: Gum tempera and gold on paper
Culture: Mughal India, Court of Alamgir (reigned 1658–1707)
Department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art

Appearing aged and benevolent, the sixth emperor of the Mughal dynasty in India sits at the jharokha window, in the attitude of dispensing favor on his subjects. Marked by a carpet draped over the railing as seen from the exterior of a palace, the jharokha window is where the emperor would come to show himself to the public. His halo indicates that he has divine grace behind him. This small portrait would have been gifted to a loyal supporter by order of the emperor. Unlike his predecessors, Alamgir disapproved of alcohol and music.

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