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Item

The singer Tansen.

Catalogue reference: Johnson 1,16

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This record is about the The singer Tansen. dating from c 1770.

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Full description and record details

Reference
Johnson 1,16
Title
The singer Tansen.
Date
c 1770
Description

The singer Tansen. Mughal, c.1770. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Inscribed in Persian: 'miyan tan sen' (the master Tan Sen); another inscription in the lower left corner is not legible; above: 'tasvir-i tan sen' (a picture of Tansen). Drawing; on an album page with outer mauve gilt-sprinkled border. 137 by 83 mm; page 380 by 255 mm. Tansen, facing left, stands leaning on a staff, dressed in a mid-length jama. 'Note:' Miyan Tansen was the most favoured of Akbar's court musicians. While most contemporary portraits show him in a singing attitude with hands extended before him (Khandalavala and Chandra (1955-56A)), this portrait is evidently derived from another Mughal original.

Held by
British Library: Asian and African Studies
Former department reference
J.1,16
Legal status
Not Public Record(s)
Language
Not applicable
Physical description
1 Item
Access conditions

Unrestricted. Appointment required to view these records. Please consult Asian and African Studies Print Room staff.

Physical condition
Medium: drawing.
Unpublished finding aids
Toby Falk and Mildred Archer, Indian miniatures in the India Office Library (London: Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1981), 215
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/513570bf-f552-435a-aed0-06fd2a5d8277/

Catalogue hierarchy

963,091 records
1,308 records

Within the fonds: (British Library) Johnson Album

British Library, Visual Arts, Richard Johnson Collection

38 records

Within the file: Johnson 1

Total of 30 leaves separately mounted. Mostly male portraits with no obvious common...

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The singer Tansen.