Posted on: 15 December 2011

Dara Shokuh holding a tray of jewels - 1641
Artist : Chitarman

The portrait depicts the eldest and favourite son of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r.1628-1658), Dara Shokuh and is dated 1641. He holds a tray of jewels, among which may be seen a European cameo. The prince was killed after the war of succession that broke out in 1658 when the emperor fell ill and Aurangzeb, his younger brother, seized power and installed himself as the new emperor. At the bottom of the painting, in the border, Shah Jahan has written in Persian, the language of the court: "A good likeness of Baba Dara Shokuh by Chitarman". Few works have been identified that are definitely by this artist and virtually nothing beyond the fact of his royal service are known about him.

The folio is from a group of paintings acquired at auction in London in 1925 where they were sold as "The Minto Album" and subsequently divided between the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin and the V&A.

Source : V&A, London


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Beyond 'Hindu' and 'Muslim': Dara Shikoh's Quest for Spiritual Unity Bo Yoginder Sikand Dara Shikoh, eldest son of the Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan, and heir apparent to his throne, was born near Ajmer in 1615 C.E.. It is said that before Dara's birth, Shah Jahan had paid a visit to the tomb of the great Chishti Sufi mystic, Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer and there had prayed for a son to be born to him, since all his earlier children had been daughters. Thus, when Dara was born great festivities were held in Delhi, the imperial capital, for the Emperor now had an heir to succeed him to the throne. Read more : http://www.apnaorg.com/test/new/article_details.php?art_id=127