Portrait of a kneeling holy man, from the Prince Salim Album by Mir Sayyid Ali, c. 1556–60; border c. 1602. Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, laid down on an album page with cream borders decorated with gold flowers and geometric motifs. Cleveland Museum of Art.
Portrait of a kneeling holy man, from the Prince Salim Album · Mir Sayyid Ali · c. 1556–60; border c. 1602 · Cleveland Museum of Art

Portrait of a kneeling holy man, from the Prince Salim Album

Mir Sayyid Ali

Year
c. 1556–60; border c. 1602
Medium
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, laid down on an album page with cream borders decorated with gold flowers and geometric motifs
Collection
Cleveland Museum of Art
License
Public Domain

Mir Sayyid Ali’s “Portrait of a kneeling holy man, from the Prince Salim Album” was created around 1556–60. The border was added in 1602. Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art.

The portrait sits on an album page with cream borders. These are decorated with gold flowers and geometric motifs. It reflects Mughal India’s court art under Akbar’s reign.

The painting is part of the Prince Salim Album. It is typical of the detailed works produced for the Mughal court. The artist was active in both Iran and India.

Mir Sayyid Ali worked in India from 1555 until his death in 1572. His career bridged Persian and Indian artistic traditions.

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio https://clevelandart.org/art/2013.295

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