Indian Miniature Painting Nur Jahan, Mughal, 1740 Islamic Portrait

You will find similar paintings listed in my other auctions. Mineral pigment and gold on paper.

Portrait: 5.5" x 4". Folio: 15" x 10.5". Her real name was Mehr-un-Nissa, and she was born in 1597 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, into a noble family from Persia, her grandfather serving the Shah Tahmasp I.

Mehr-un-Nissa was the fourth child of Mirza Ghias Beg and his wife, Asmat Begum, who was born after the family had migrated to India. Her father Ghias Beg served the great Mughal Akbar, who bestowed him with the title of'Itmat-ud-daulah' (Pillar of the State), while her brother Asaf Khan, served Jahangir and the next heir to the Mughal throne, Emperor Shah Jahan. Nur Jahan was first married at the age of 17 to a Persian adventurer named Sher Afghan Ali Quli Khan Istajlu, who was renowned for his brilliant military career, and from whom she bore a daughter, Ladli Begum. After Sher Afghan's death in 1607, Mehr-un-Nissa began serving the royal Mughal empire, then under Emperor Jehangir after his father, Akbar's death in 1605.

She was the lady-in-waiting to the imperial harem, serving one of Jahangir's step-mothers, Ruqayya Sultana Begam. During the spring festival of Norouz in 1611, Jahangir first set eyes on Mehr-un-Nissa at the palace meena bazaar. Jahangir affectionately named Nur Mahal (Light of the Palace) after marriage, and then as Nur Jahan (Light of the world) in 1616. Jahangir even bestowed her with royal power to govern the affairs of the state, that saw even her family members prospering. Jahangir's addiction to alcohol and opium saw Nur Jahan exert her influence over the emperor and along with her growing prestige she eventually controlled the reins to thus lead the great Mughal Empire into a flourishing period. Item is guaranteed to be authentic. High resolution images are available upon request. Thank you for viewing my listing. The item "Indian Miniature Painting Nur Jahan, Mughal, 1740 Islamic Portrait" is in sale since Friday, September 15, 2017. This item is in the category "Antiques\Asian Antiques\India". The seller is "orientalminiatures" and is located in Honolulu, Hawaii.

This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Age: Pre-1800
• Region of Origin: India
• Primary Material: Paper