"The Emperor Humayun Returning from a Journey Greets his Son", Folio from a Manuscript of the Akbarnama. Folio from the Davis Album

Abu'l Fazl

ca. 1604 · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper · Islamic Art

A young Akbar is held up – probably by the loyal and influential Bairam Khan – to his father Emperor Humayun. In 1543 Humayun was forced to flee India and leave his young son Akbar in the care of his family at Kandahar, but was reunited with him after two years in 1545, possibly the subject depicted here. This painting is one of eight folios from the so-called "Chester Beatty Akbarnama" in the Davis album. Written by the courtier Abu'l Fazl between 1589 and 1598, the Akbarnama chronicles the life of the emperor Akbar.

Artist

Abu'l Fazl

Date

ca. 1604

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915