Cleveland Museum of Art

Portrait of Murad Bakhsh (1624–61)

Balchand

Date: c. 1635; borders c. 1700s
Medium: gum tempera and gold on paper
Culture: Mughal India, court of Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–58)
Department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art

The miniature portrait of a Mughal prince is now mounted on an album page. Originally, it was in a gemstone setting as a “portrait jewel” to be worn by family and supporters at court. India’s ruling elite had been wearing portrait jewels since Sir Thomas Rowe (about 1581–1655) presented British portrait miniatures and cameos to the Mughal emperor as part of a diplomatic gift in 1616, when he successfully negotiated for British access to India’s ports. This portrait belonged to a cousin of Sir Winston Churchill.

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