Bishandās and Portraiture in Transition
Open Access DepositedThe Mughal Portrait of Shāh Abbas I
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The Mughal portrait of Shāh Abbās I, titled Portrait of Shāh Abbās I from the Harvard Art Museums attributed to Bishandās, is a unique artwork both in its compositional style and in the circumstances of its creation. As part of the 1613 Mughal envoy to Ṣafavid Iran, Bishandās encountered a bustling metropolis, striking architectural achievements, and a shift in artistic tastes and aesthetics. In this environment, artworks were commissioned not only by the royal court but also by private individuals. These works often depict figures displaying tools while actively engaged in their crafts. Bishandās participated in these artistic practices, producing works that merge his experiences in Ṣafavid Iran with his traditional training in Mughal artistry. This thesis examines Bishandās’s portraits of Shāh Abbās I through the lens of the connections and relationships that shape the portraits, one grounded in direct observation by capturing a physiognomic representation. This representation of Shāh Abbās I entered Mughal India upon the return of Bishandās’s and became the prototype for later paintings at the royal court, such as those in the allegorical series from the St. Petersburg Album. Through these works, Shāh Abbās I emerges as a familiar figure, cast in a distinctive and recognizable stance that ultimately becomes an “archetype” within Mughal visual culture.
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