Posted on: 13 November 2012

Gouache painting on paper of BAHADUR SHAH II seated on a chair with lion claw feet, on a terrace. Bahadur Shah II is lavishly attired, wearing a multi-coloured shawl over his shoulder and waist and jewellery at his neck, wrists and arms. He holds a huqqa pipe in his left hand and rests his right hand on his knee. A halo surrounds his head with small rays issuing out of it. Standing behind Bahadur Shah II on the right, is a male holding a fly-whisk above his head. The man wears a dark red shawl over his right shoulder and a blue sash tied around his waist. Another figure, smaller in stature stands behind Bahadur Shah II to the left of the painting. The figure wears jewellery and a red, green and gold hat. The figures are shown on a terrace with a red floor and white balustrades. In the distance is shown foliage and a lake or river.

ca.1850

© Trustees of the British Museum


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Where did you find this? I've never seen it. I might be wrong but it looks like Akbar II not BSZ to me- but the artist is definitely Ghulam Ali Khan

Thank you William Dalrymple! It is possible that your observation might indeed be correct...since there is a strong resemblance to Akbar Shah II who was after all his father. I guess Bahadur Shah's gaze was more intense than his father's rather kindly eyes. I would even suspect that his face to be a bit more gaunt (in his later years) than his father Akbar Shah II. This is the link at the British Museum: http://bit.ly/SUxnyN This is a link to Akbar Shah II's painting with Theophilus Metcalf where we can see the resemblance which you are referring to: http://bit.ly/X6l4WN

It was the period of the empire extending from "aalam to paalam". No wonder they spent time on paintings???

That frozen gaze seems that he might be suffering from an early Parkinsnism. I wonder if he had it. I know from reading his biography taht at the time of his capture he was ill.