The early Mughal prince depicted in this portrait has been tentatively identified as Hindal Mirza (1519-1551). He was the youngest son of the Mughal dynasty’s founder, Emperor Babur (r. 1526-1530). Hindal died bravely in Afghanistan during a nighttime attack on his brother, Emperor Humayun (r. 1530-1540 and 1555-1556). In honor of his deceased brother, Humayun gave Hindal’s daughter, Raqia, in marriage to his son, the future Emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605). Raqia bore no children, but under the directive of her husband was entrusted with the care of his grandson, the future Emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1627-1628).
In this individualized, sensitive portrait, Hindal Mirza wears the distinctive Chaghatai-style headgear, known as a Crown of Power and Glory (Taj-i ‘Izzat), which was favored by Humayun and his brothers. Hindal wears a blue garment and an elegant red and gold overcoat with a white fur (?) border. He holds a small book with a lacquered and gilded cover, symbolic of wisdom, and a handkerchief, an emblem of cultural refinement. Around his waist he wears a sword belt with bejeweled golden fittings and a Persian shamshir (lion’s tail) sabre, indicative of his prowess as a warrior. Hindal sits in a garden with delicate flowering plants and a light green background characteristic of Akbar-period painting.
On the back of the painting is a later Persian inscription erroneously identifying the subject as Emperor Timur (r. 1370-1405). (Translation by Thomas W. Lentz.)
