- Title
- Deaths of Al-Wathiq and Muhammad b. Baiis b. Jalis (recto), Death of Anbakh (verso), Folio from a Tarikh-i Alfi (Millennial History)
- Date Made
- circa 1592-1594
- Medium
- Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper
- Dimensions
- Sheet: 16 1/2 x 10 in. (41.91 x 25.4 cm); Image: 16 1/2 x 8 3/4 in. (41.91 x 22.23 cm)
- Accession Number
- M.78.9.4
- Collecting Area
- South and Southeast Asian Art
- Curatorial Notes
The Tarikh-i Alfi (Millennial History) was compiled for the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605) between 1581-1582 and 1593-1594. It is a history of the Muslim rulers during the first millennium of the Muslim error, which ended in 1591. The project overseer was the eminent historian Badaoni. Seven authors were initially involved, each of whom wrote on an individual year. This rotation was repeated for five years up to the 35th year, at which point additional authors were assigned to complete the work. Badaoni and Asaf Khan revised and corrected the entire manuscript, which is now dispersed. See also M.83.105.3.
Recto: In the upper composition, al-Wathiq of the Abbasid dynasty (r. 842-847) has died in his sleep on a carpeted bed. A group of men laments his passing. In the lower composition, al-Mutawakkil brandishes a sword after slaying Muhammad b. Baiis b. Jalis. Two distraught women witness the deed.
Verso: This folio depicts the death of Anbakh during the reign of Caliph Mutasim (r. 833-842). He had arranged a great feast, but unfortunately died of dehydration before it could take place. Anbakh lies on a carpet beside golden and ceramic dishes of delicacies while anxious servants and guests wait in dismay.
- Selected Bibliography
- Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Painting, vol.1. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1993.
- Rosenfield, John. The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
- Heeramaneck, Alice N. Masterpieces of Indian Painting : From the Former Collections of Nasli M. Heeramaneck. New York: A.N. Heeramaneck, 1984.