Jahangir portrait fetches record Rs 10 crore at auction

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A 17th century life-size portrait of fourth Mughal emperor Jahangir was sold for a record Rs 10 crore at Bonhams Indian and Islamic Sale in London. The painting is attributed to Abul Hasan or Nadir al-Zaman or "wonder of the age" as he was called by Jahangir, who was the Mughal Emperor from 1605-1627.

Abul Hasan and his father Aga Reza of Herat were the famous painters of the court of Jahangir. Jahangir was an excellent connoisseur of paintings. The emperor was also an art critic who could tell the names of the individual painters in a composite piece. 

Other important painters of his court were Muhammad Nadir and Muhammad Murad from Samarqand, Ustad Mansur, Bishan Das, Manohar and Govardhan. Most of the subjects of Mughal paintings were inspired by the court life and the natural life.

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