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{{Short description|Mughal miniature painter (1589 – c. 1630)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox artist
| image = 1 Daulat. Portrait of Abu'l Hasan. From the Gulshan Album, ca. 1610, Golestan Palace Library, Tehran.jpg
| style = Mughal
| patrons = [[Jahangir]]
| caption = Portrait of Abu al-Hasan by [[Daulat (artist)|Daulat]] from the [[Gulshan Album]] (c. 1610)
| birth_date = 1589
| birth_place = [[Delhi]], [[Delhi Subah]], [[Mughal Empire]]
| death_date = 1630
}}

'''Abu'l-Hasan''' (or '''Abu al-Hasan'''; 1589 – c. 1630), from [[Delhi]], India, was a [[Mughal painter]] of [[miniature (illuminated manuscript)|miniatures]] during the reign of [[Jahangir]].

== Biography ==
[[File:'The Artist Abu’l Hasan Presents a Painting to Prince Salim', by Abu'l-Hasan, Mughal, ca.1600.png|thumb|'The Artist Abu’l Hasan Presents a Painting to Prince Salim', by Abu'l-Hasan, Mughal, ca.1600]]
Abu al-Hasan was the son of Aqa Reza Heravi of [[Herat]] in [[Safavid Iran]], a city with an artistic tradition. Aqa Reza was established as an artist and [[Emigration of Iranians to India during the 16-18th centuries|took up employment]] with [[Jahangir]] (r. 1605 –1627) before the latter's accession to the throne of the [[Mughal Empire]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last1=Welch|first1=Stuart Cary|url=http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15324coll10/id/114935|title=The Emperors' album: images of Mughal India|last2=Schimmel|first2=Annemarie|last3=Swietochowski|first3=Marie L.|last4=Thackston|first4=Wheeler M.|date=1987|publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art|location=New York|language=English|oclc=893699157|access-date=7 June 2021|archive-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801004024/http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15324coll10/id/114935|url-status=live}}</ref> When Abu al-Hasan began producing art, the [[emperor]], Jahangir, appreciated the skills of the boy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Beach|first=Milo Cleveland|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/chol9780521400275|title=Mughal and Rajput Painting|date=1992-09-24|publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/chol9780521400275|isbn=978-0-521-40027-5|access-date=13 May 2021|archive-date=15 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315175652/https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/mughal-and-rajput-painting/40F5AF5DAE0E507C9466FA7C46BA3A1A|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1599, Abu al-Hasan moved with Jahangir to his newly founded court in [[Allahabad]].<ref name=":1">{{Citation|title=1600–1660: Mughal painting and the rise of local workshops|date=1992-09-24|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/chol9780521400275.006|work=Mughal and Rajput Painting|series=The New Cambridge History of India|pages=68–156|publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/chol9780521400275.006|isbn=978-0-521-40027-5|access-date=2021-05-13|archive-date=15 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315175726/https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/mughal-and-rajput-painting/16001660-mughal-painting-and-the-rise-of-local-workshops/3D4255E2F33090419D23ED0754BBCE40|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

[[File:Abu'l - The St. Petersburg Album- Allegorical representation of Emperor Jahangir and Shah - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|''[[Jahangir Embracing Shah Abbas]]'', c. 1618, Freer Gallery]]
The emperor considered Abu al-Hasan to be particularly special to him and under his care.<ref name=":2" /> This is because although Abu al-Hasan's artwork was similar in many ways to his father's with [[Dutch art|Dutch]] and [[English art|English]] influence, it was considered to be of a higher quality similar to that of older masters in the field.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> Jahangir said of Abu al-Hasan that he had no equal and for the work done on the frontispiece for his memoires, the emperor bestowed the title ''Nadir-uz-Saman'' ("Wonder of the Age") on Abu al-Hasan in 1618.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Study of Saint John the Evangelist, After Albrecht Dürer|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/76199|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-21|website=www.metmuseum.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521132521/https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/76199 |archive-date=21 May 2021 }}</ref>

Abu al-Hasan's main task was the documentation of events at the imperial court, which resulted in many portraits being completed. [[Portrait]]s were the hallmark of Jahangir's rule.<ref name=":12">{{Citation|title=1600–1660: Mughal painting and the rise of local workshops|date=1992-09-24|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/chol9780521400275.006|work=Mughal and Rajput Painting|series=The New Cambridge History of India|pages=68–156|publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/chol9780521400275.006|isbn=978-0-521-40027-5|access-date=2021-05-13|archive-date=15 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315175726/https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/mughal-and-rajput-painting/16001660-mughal-painting-and-the-rise-of-local-workshops/3D4255E2F33090419D23ED0754BBCE40|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Not many of Abu al-Hasan's paintings survived, but those that identify him as the artist show that he also worked on a range of subjects, including some everyday scenes<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Potter|first=Polyxeni|date=September 2009|title=Never Has There Been a Shade1|journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases|volume=15|issue=9|pages=1541–1542|doi=10.3201/eid1509.000000|issn=1080-6040|pmc=2819890}}</ref> and political paintings that showed the emperor and [[Mughal Empire|Mughal empire]] in a positive and powerful light.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Ramaswamy |first=Sumathi |date=October 2007 |title=Conceit of the Globe in Mughal Visual Practice |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0010417507000758 |journal=Comparative Studies in Society and History |volume=49 |issue=4 |pages=751–782 |doi=10.1017/s0010417507000758 |issn=0010-4175 |s2cid=144619248 |access-date=13 May 2021 |archive-date=15 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315175721/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/comparative-studies-in-society-and-history/article/abs/conceit-of-the-globe-in-mughal-visual-practice/1BAD6387E043A3674DFBD732B105DEEA |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In addition to original works of art, Abu al-Hasan also retouched other artists' paintings (one such example is below: ''Dancing Dervishes'')<ref name=":2" />

Abu al-Hasan's career aligned with developments in the style of [[Mughal painting]]s.<ref name=":2" /> However, when Jahangir's reign came to an end, and [[Shah Jahan]] began his rule, Abu al-Hasan's career became less active until 1628 from which point on, there is no evidence of him producing art.<ref name=":5" />

===Works===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Title
!Year
!Current location
!Notes
!Material
|-
|''Study of Saint John the Evangelist, After Albrecht Dürer''
|c. 1600 –1601
|[[Metropolitan Museum of Art]]
|Completed by the artist at the age of 13, this is considered an accurate study of [[Albrecht Dürer|Albrecht Durer's]] (a German artist) original.<ref name=":5" />
|Brush drawn ink on paper
|-
|''Spotted Forktail''
|c. 1610 –1615
|Metropolitan Museum of Art
|Portrays a [[Forktail|spotted forktail bird]], usually found in the [[Himalayas]], caught in a hunt<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title="Spotted Forktail", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/454623 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123010153/http://www.metmuseum.org:80/art/collection/search/454623 |archive-date=23 November 2016 |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=www.metmuseum.org}}</ref> in Jangespur (which is not a known location today) that the emperor demanded be drawn. The [[gilding]] along the border decorated with floral motifs, however, was not completed by Abu al-Hasan, but another artist named as Harif by an inscription.<ref name=":2" /> Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
|Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on silk
|-
|''[[Jahangir Shooting the Head of Malik Ambar]]''
|c. 1620
|[[Freer Gallery of Art]]
|
|Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
|-
|''[[Emperor Jahangir Triumphing over Poverty]]''
|c. 1620 –1625
|[[Los Angeles County Museum of Art]]
|
|Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper
|-
|''[https://asia.si.edu/object/F1946.28/ Darbar Scene of Jahangir]''
|c. 1615
|Freer Gallery of Art
|Abu al-Hasan doesn't label the globe, but puts it under Emperor Jahangir's feet and gives the emperor a key to the globe. The inscription reads, "The key of victory over the two worlds is entrusted in his hand".<ref name=":3" />
|Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
|-
|''[[Jahangir Embracing Shah Abbas]]'' (or ''Allegorical Representation of Emperor Jahangir and Shah 'Abbas of Persia'')
|c. 1618
|Freer Gallery of Art
|This political painting was inspired, according to Abu al-Hasan, by a dream. It depicts [[Jahangir]] and [[Abbas the Great|Abbas]] in a situation in which [[Mughal emperors|Mughal emperor]], Jahangir, is in a more powerful position, standing on a lion, embracing the shorter [[Abbas the Great|Shah Abbas of Iran]] (his cousin) who is standing on a small lamb and cannot fully reach around Jahangir's body. In reality the two were enemies vying over territory in [[Afghanistan]] and this scene did not actually occur.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Allegorical representation of Emperor Jahangir and Shah Abbas of Persia from the St. Petersburg Album |url=https://asia.si.edu/object/F1945.9a |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Sackler Gallery |language=en-US |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513184616/https://asia.si.edu/object/F1945.9a/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3" />
|Opaque watercolor, ink, silver and gold on paper
|-
|''The Mughal Emperor Jahangir with Radiant Gold Halo, Holding a Globe''
|c. 1617
|[[Sotheby's]] Picture Library, London
|[[Cartography|Cartographic]] artifacts, such as the [[globe]] in this painting, were regarded as distinguished and could increase the reputation of the owner or holder of such an object. It was as much a symbol of royalty as a crown. This artwork was painted in [[Mandu, Madhya Pradesh|Mandu]]. The [[Persia]]n verses espouse the emperor's greatness in the context of other world empires. In this painting, the globe isn't labeled.<ref name=":3" /> This painting's image measures 197 x 128.5 cm and is the largest known Mughal painting.
|Gouache with gold on fine cotton
|-
|''[[Squirrels in a Plane Tree]]''
|c. 1610
|[[British Library]]
|One of the most famous painting associated with Abu al-Hasan's name, ''Squirrels in a Plane Tree'', is a depiction of animal posture and movement. The painting depicts [[European Squirrel|European squirrels]] unknown in [[India]]. The signature on the painting is unclear: ''Nadir al-Asr'' ("Miracle of the Age") is the title of [[Ustad Mansur]], not of Abu al-Hasan, but the painting is not in Ustad Mansur's style. It is possible that both painters collaborated on this painting.<ref name=":4" />
|Gouache on Paper
|-
|''Jahangir entertains Abbas''
|c. 1620
|Freer Gallery of Art
|Although the scene depicted in this painting never took place, it shows the reception of the [[Abbas the Great|Safavid Shah 'Abbas I]] by the [[Mughal emperors|Mughal emperor.]] Within the painting are many objects and people used to elevate the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal court]] and Emperor [[Jahangir]], such as international imagery and status symbols. One example is the [https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/193623 Diana Automaton].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Keating |first=Jessica |date=2015-08-17 |title=Metamorphosis at the Mughal Court |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8365.12178 |journal=Art History |volume=38 |issue=4 |pages=732–747 |doi=10.1111/1467-8365.12178 |issn=0141-6790 |access-date=13 May 2021 |archive-date=15 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315175637/https://academic.oup.com/arthistory/article-abstract/38/4/732/7278263?redirectedFrom=fulltext |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> This painting became a part of the [[St. Petersburg album]] when it, and many other Mughal artworks, were seized by [[Nader Shah]] in 1739.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jahangir Entertains Shah Abbas from the St. Petersburg Album |url=https://asia.si.edu/object/F1942.16a |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Sackler Gallery |language=en-US |archive-date=21 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521191214/https://asia.si.edu/object/F1942.16a/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|Opaque watercolor, gold and ink on paper
|-
|''Jahangir as the Queller of Rebellion''
|c. 1623
|
|Jahangir with a [[Halo (religious iconography)|halo]] around his head, holds a globe with a royal seal on it while dressed in a Mughal outfit. The painting portrays the emperor after he successfully put an end to a rebellion led by one of his sons, [[Shah Jahan|Prince Shah Jahan]].<ref name=":2" /> Was in an exhibition held at the Metropolitan Museum, October 21, 1987 – February 14, 1988.
|
|-
|''Dancing Dervishes''
|c. 1610
|
|This painting is attributed to [[Aqa Mirak|Aqa-Miraq]] (mid-sixteenth century) but was painted over, most likely, by Abu al-Hasan (c. 1610). It portrays a [[Mevlevi Sema Ceremony|Mevlevi Sema]]' Ceremony, an event filled with music, dance, and ritual.<ref name=":2" /> Was in an exhibition held at the Metropolitan Museum, October 21, 1987 – February 14, 1988
|Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" heights="200">
File:6Abu'l Hasan Squirrels in a Plane Tree, ca. 1610, India Office Library and Records, London.jpg|alt=|''Squirrels in a Plane Tree'' (c. 1610).
File:Jahangircrop.jpeg|alt=Portrait of Jahangir (detail) by Abu al-Hasan, 1617|Portrait of [[Jahangir]] (detail) by Abu al-Hasan, 1617.
File:10 Abu'l Hasan Saʿdī presents a book of his poems, 1615, Walters Art Museum, Baltimor.jpg|alt=Saʿdī presents a book of his poems, 1615, Walters Art Museum|Saʿdī presents a book of his poems, 1615, [[Walters Art Museum]].
File:18 Abu'l Hasan. Portrait of Jahangir, 1615-20, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New-York.jpg|alt=Portrait of Jahangir, 1615–20, Metropolitan Museum of Art|Portrait of Jahangir, 1615–1620, [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]].
File:7 Abu'l Hasan, Spotted Forktail, Folio from the Shah Jahan Album ca. 1610–15 Metropolitan Museum New-York.jpg|alt=Spotted Forktail, Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, c. 1610–15, Metropolitan Museum|Spotted Forktail, Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, c. 1610–1615, Metropolitan Museum.
File:8 Abu'l Hasan. Celebrations at the accession of Jahangir. Jahangirnama. St. Petersburg Album. ca. 1615-18, Institute of Oriental Studies, St. Petersburg..jpg|alt=Celebrations at the accession of Jahangir. Jahangirnama. St. Petersburg Album, c. 1615–18, Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences|Celebrations at the accession of Jahangir. Jahangirnama. St. Petersburg Album, c. 1615–1618, [[Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences]].
File:Emperor Jahangir, Triumphing Over Poverty, ca1620-1625.jpg|alt=Emperor Jahangir Triumphing over Poverty, attributed to Abu'l Hasan, ca. 1620–1625. Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on page, 23.81 x 15.24 cm.|''Emperor Jahangir Triumphing over Poverty,'' attributed to Abu'l Hasan, c. 1620–1625. Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on page, 23.81 x 15.24 cm.
File:Durbar scene of Jahangir.jpg|Durbar Scene of Jahangir. Painted by Abu'l Hasan, ca. 1615. Opaque water color, gold, and ink on paper, 16.9 x 12.3 cm. Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., purchase F1946.28.
File:Jahangir Entertains Shah Abbas.jpg|Abu'l Hasan, ''Jahangir Entertains Shah Abbas'', c. 1620. Washington, DC: Freer and Sackler Galleries.
File:Jahangir - Abu al-Hasan.jpeg|alt=The Mughal Emperor Jahangir with Radiant Gold Halo, Holding a Globe (c. 1617)The largest known Mughal portrait depicting Emperor Jahangir. Attributed to Abu'l Hasan, Nadir al-Zaman painted at Mandu|''The Mughal Emperor Jahangir with Radiant Gold Halo, Holding a Globe'' (c. 1617). The largest known Mughal portrait depicting Emperor Jahangir. Attributed to Abu'l Hasan, Nadir al-Zaman painted at Mandu.
File:2 Abu'l Hasan. Study of St. John Evangelist adapted from Durer's Crusifixion engraving of 1511. Dated 1600-1601, The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford..jpg|alt=2 Abu'l Hasan. Study of St. John Evangelist adapted from Durer's Crucifixion engraving of 1511. Dated 1600–1601, The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.|Abu'l Hasan. Study of St. John Evangelist adapted from Durer's Crucifixion engraving of 1511. Dated 1600 –1601, [[The Ashmolean Museum]], Oxford.
File:Dancing Dervishes.jpg|alt="Dancing Dervishes", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album. Originally by Aqa Mirak, retouched by Abu'l Hasan|"Dancing Dervishes", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album. Originally by [[Aqa Mirak]], retouched by Abu'l Hasan.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/114935/rec/401 The Emperors' album: images of Mughal India], an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Abu al-Hasan
*[https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/76199 Study of Saint John the Evangelist], After Albrecht Durer, dated 1600 –1601, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
*[https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/454623 ''Spotted Forktail,'' Folio from the Shah Jahan Album (''c. 1610 –1615)''] The Metropolitan Museum of Art
*''[https://asia.si.edu/object/F1948.19a/ Jahangir Shoots Malik 'Anbar (c.1620)] Freer Gallery of Art''
*''[https://collections.lacma.org/node/240917 Emperor Jahangir Triumphing over Poverty] (c. 1620 –1625)'' Los Angeles County Museum of Art
*''[https://asia.si.edu/object/F1946.28/ Darbar Scene of Jahangir] (c. 1615) Freer Gallery of Art''
*''[https://asia.si.edu/object/F1945.9a/ Allegorical Representation of Emperor Jahangir and Shah 'Abbas of Persia] ( c. 1618) Freer Gallery of Art''
*''[http://www.islamicmanuscripts.info/reference/books/Sothebys-19951018/Sothebys-19951018-077-088.pdf The Mughal Emperor Jahangir with Radiant Gold Halo, Holding a Globe (c. 1617)]'' Sotheby's Picture Library, London
*[https://asia.si.edu/object/F1942.16a/ ''Jahangir entertains Abbas'' (c. 1620)] Freer Gallery of Art
*[https://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15324coll10/id/114620 An exhibition held at the Metropolitan Museum, October 21,1987-February 14,1988]
{{commons category}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Works by Abu'l Hasan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Al-Hasan, Abu}}
[[Category:Painters from the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:1589 births]]
[[Category:17th-century deaths]]
[[Category:17th-century Iranian painters]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian painters]]
[[Category:Painters from Delhi]]
[[Category:17th-century Mughal Empire people]]
[[Category:Iranian emigrants to the Mughal Empire]]

Abu'l-Hasan artist - Revision history

XMCplNewsRSSPortal at 10:50, 27 March 2026