Lecture – ‘Mughal Painting at its Zenith’ Oliver Everett

Mr Oliver Everett – Librarian Emeritus of the Royal Library, Windsor Castle

The Life and Times of the Indian Emperor Shah Jahan

'Shah Jahan receives his three eldest sons and Asaf Khan during his accession ceremonies', The Royal Collection © 2010, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (RCIN 1005025.k-)

Mr Oliver Everett, Librarian Emeritus of the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, United Kingdom, will be presenting the images as part of an international public lecture based on the Islamic manuscript, the Padshahnama (chronicle of the King of the World) which is the unique official history of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, who ruled India from 1628 to 1658. He is best remembered for the building of the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

The Padshahnama is illustrated with 44 of the finest Mughal paintings in the world.  They vividly depict the very dramatic events in the Emperor’s reign and the years before it. Most of the important individuals in Shah Jahan’s court can be identified and the paintings tell the remarkable story of the intrigues of court life as well as the Emperor’s Coronation, royal weddings, bloody battles and hunting scenes.

The book is the finest Islamic manuscript in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle and was given to King George III in 1797 by the ruler of the north Indian state of Oudh. A highlight of this lecture will be the visual presentation of a selection of exquisite images from the Royal Collection.

Date: Thursday 23 September 2010, 6pm
Venue: Copland Theatre, Economics and Commerce Building, The University of Melbourne, Parkville.

Online poster – http://www.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/downloads/MughulInternationalPublicLecture.pdf

Admission is FREE.
Bookings are ESSENTIAL.

To book please register at www.unimelb.edu.au/public_lectures
Enquiries: cfargher@unimelb.edu.au, 8344 6004

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