A Hindu princess committing suttee against the wishes of the Emperor Akbar but with his reluctant consent. Gouache.

Other depictions of this scene are found in a manuscript in the British Library, MS Or. 2839, fol. 17v (see J. Losty, The art of the book in India, London c.1982, pp. 98-99, and N. Titley, Miniatures from Persian manuscripts, London 1977, p. 135) and a manuscript in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, no. P. 268, fol. 31v (see N. Titley, Persian miniature painting, London 1983, pp. 121-122)

In the right foreground, on horseback, is Prince Dāniyāl, Akbar's eldest son, from whom Nau'ī received the story

[between 1700 and 1799]

1 painting : gouache, with gold ; image 22.6 x 16 cm

Exhibited in ‘Beyond the Page: South Asian Miniature Painting and Britain, 1600 to Now’ at MK Gallery, Milton Keynes, 7th October 2023 – 28th January 2024, and The Box, Plymouth, 17th February – 2nd June 2024

The Lancet, 25 January 1997, p. 292 (reproduced)

Mount decorated with blue, orange and pink borders with foliate patterns in gold

Wellcome Collection 11923i