{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O9595"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O9595/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BX3707/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BX3707/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009BX3707","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AU9184","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB3654","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O9595/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O9595","accessionNumber":"IS.2:83-1896","objectType":"Painting","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This illustration to the <i>Akbarnama</i> depicts Akbar on horseback,watching the cleansing and purification of  Tukar Talao, the local water tank, with his attendants. It is the left-hand side of a double page illustration, the right side (IS.2:82), shows the cleaning process with a fortified city in the background. \r\n\r\nThe <i>Akbarnama</i> was commissioned by the emperor Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written by his court historian and biographer Abu'l Fazl between 1590 and 1596 and is thought to have been illustrated between about 1592 and 1594 by at least 49 different artists from Akbar's studio. After Akbar's death in 1605, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) and later Shah Jahan (r.1628-1658). The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs Frances Clarke, the widow of Major-General John Clarke, who bought it in India while serving as Commissioner of Oudh between 1858 and 1862.","physicalDescription":"Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, left side of double picture (right side is IS 2:82-1896). The cleansing of a water tank while Akbar watches from his horse. His servants stand behind him, holding emblems of royalty.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Kesav Kalan","id":"A6094"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"artist, outline"},{"name":{"text":"Bhagwan","id":"A1643"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"artist, colours and details"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"opaque watercolour","id":"x35013"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"},{"text":"drawing","id":"x32498"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"},{"text":"Animals and Wildlife","id":"THES250852"},{"text":"Illustration","id":"THES48938"},{"text":"Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project","id":"THES263148"}],"styles":[{"text":"Mughal","id":"AAT18939"},{"text":"Akbar","id":""}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2009BX3707","2006AU9184","2017KB3654"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES403517"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"painting","id":"AAT33618"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Mughal Empire","id":"THES262021"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1590-95","earliest":"1585-01-01","latest":"1595-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"IS.2:82-1896","id":"O9596"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Purchased from Mrs. Clarke, The Dingle, Sydenham Hill, S. E","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"No exact measurements available, but image cannot exceed folio size of 38.1cm x 22.4cm.","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"Persian","medium":"ink","method":"","position":"","script":"Persian","translation":"'Composition by Kesav Kalan/Work [ie painting] by Bhagwan'","transliteration":"'Tarh Kesav Kalan/amal Bhagwan'","type":"Maker's identification","note":"These are contemporary attributions written in Persian, in red ink, at the bottom of the page below the painting"}],"objectHistory":"The Akbarnama, or \"Book of Akbar\", was commissioned by the emperor Akbar as the official chronicle of his reign. It was written by 1590 and 1596 and is thought to have been illustrated between ca. 1592 and 1594  by at least forty-nine different artists from Akbar's studio. After Akbar's death in 1605, the manuscript remained in the library of his son, Jahangir (r.1605-1627) and later Shah Jahan (r.1628-1658). The Victoria and Albert Museum purchased it in 1896 from Mrs. Frances Clarke, the widow of Major General John Clarke, an official who had been the Commissioner in Oudh province between 1858 and 1862.\r\n\r\nHistorical significance: It is thought to be the first illustrated copy of the Akbarnama. It drew upon the expertise of some of the best royal painters of the time, many of whom receive special mention by Abu'l Fazl in the A'in-i-Akbari, the third volume of the Akbarnama. The inscriptions in red ink on the bottom of the paintings refer to the artists and indicate that this was a royal copy.\r\n\r\nPurchased from Mrs. Clarke, The Dingle, Sydenham Hill, S. E. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.\r\n\r\nRegistered Papers: 85488/95","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Painting, <i>Akbarnama</i>, purification of the Kukur Talao, outline by Kesav, painting by Bhagwan, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1590-95","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Outline painted by Kesav Kalan, colours and details painted by Bhagwan.\r\nAttribution place is likely to be Delhi, Agra or Fatehpur Sikri.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"The cleansing of a water tank while Akbar watches from his horse. His servants stand behind him, holding emblems of royalty.","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Akbar (The Great)","id":"N107"}],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Fazl, Abu'l","id":"N104"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"tank","id":"AAT6203"},{"text":"men","id":"AAT25928"},{"text":"ruler","id":"AAT25475"},{"text":"horse","id":"x34864"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Akbarnama"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.2:83-1896"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1896,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"inscription/original number","id":"THES51028"},"number":"168"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-23","recordCreationDate":"1998-11-10","availableToBook":true}}