  About the Artwork
  
  
  The prince in this portrait was probably a high-ranking member of the imperial Mughal family, which held power in South Asia between 1526 and 1858. His jewel-strung turban and fine clothing — including a robe made of sheer muslin, an expensive cloth valued for its light weight and soft texture — show his great wealth. The radiant halo surrounding his head further marks his status; artists reserved this symbol for emperors, crown princes, and other highly revered figures.

Although the name “Sultan Shuja” is inscribed in Persian at right, the figure does not resemble other portraits of Shuja (better known as Shah Shuja; 1616–1661). The inscription was probably added to the painting later, and the identity of this prince remains a mystery.
  
  
  Title
  Portrait of a Mughal Prince
  
  
  Artwork Date
  between 1650 and 1700
  
  Artist
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  Life Dates
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  Nationality
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events.
  Some definitions include:
  Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation.
  
  
  
  Indian
  
  
  
  Culture
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group.
  
  
  
  
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  Medium
  Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper
  
  
  Dimensions
  Image: 9 3/4 × 5 1/2 inches (24.8 × 14 cm)
  Framed: 18 × 14 inches (45.7 × 35.6 cm)
  
  
  Classification
  Paintings
  
  
  Department
  Islamic Art
  
  
  Credit
  Founders Society Purchase, Electra Willard Fund
  
  
  
  Accession Number
  
  
  
  This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection.
  Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings.
  For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups.
  
  
  
  26.8
  
  
  Copyright
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