Indian and South Asian Miniatures
Although Pierpont Morgan's first illuminated manuscript acquisition was a Rajput Ragamala with a complete cycle of thirty-six miniatures (MS M.211), no other Rajput miniatures were added to the collection during his lifetime. In 1911, however, Belle Da Costa Greene acquired fifty-seven leaves, now known as the Read albums after their former owner Charles Hercules Read. Consisting primarily of Persian paintings and calligraphy, the Read albums also contain several outstanding examples of Mughal and Deccan miniatures, now largely grouped together under the shelf-mark MS M.458. Another major turning point in the history of this aspect of the collection was a 1978 exhibition at the Morgan, devoted to Rajput miniatures ("The Classical Tradition in Rajput Painting from the Paul F. Walter Collection"). In conjunction with this exhibition, Paul Walter unexpectedly donated ten miniatures to the library (M.990–999). These provided a small survey of Rajput painting, which he and his family would greatly expand with additional gifts over the years. Altogether, the Morgan currently holds some 125 miniature paintings from India and South Asia—excluding the bound illuminated manuscripts.
Elephant Dalbādal chasing his trainer. Rajasthan, India, ca. 1750. Credit: Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1979. MS M.1006.
Thumbnails
MS M.458.1r
A female ascetic and her male attendant.
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.1v
A sleeping mallard
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.2r
Shāh Jahān seated on a jeweled throne
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.2v
A Mughal calligraphy
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.3
Aʻẓam Shāh holding the sword of state
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.4r
A seated nobleman holding a pink flower
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.4v
A Mughal calligraphy of Muḥammad Ḥusain Kashmīrī
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.5r
A Mughal bust portrait of Hakīm Muʼmina wearing a European hat
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.5v
A calligraphy by ʻAlī
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.6
A bust portrait of the young Dārā Shikōh
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911. 1924.
MS M.458.7r
Two women discuss a passage in a book
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.7v
A calligraphy of Maḥmūd ibn Isḥāq al-Shihābī
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.8
The young Akbar with a hunting party.
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.9
A portrait of Prince Dārā Shikōh within a mandorla
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.10
Bābur racing with two companions during the flight from Samarqand
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.11
Khiżr presents a globe to Shāh Jahān
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.12r
Prince Salīm at a jharoka window
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.12v
A calligraphy by ʻAli
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.13r
An old mullah received in the women's quarters at night MS M.458.13r).
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.13v
A calligraphy
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.14
A peri riding a composite horse surrounded by an acanthus-scroll border.
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.15r
Three peris ride a composite elephant, surrounded by an acanthus-scroll border
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.15v
A calligraphy
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.16r
A pensive woman smoking a waterpipe
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.16v
A calligraphy by ʻAbd-Allāh
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.17
The Mughal emperor Humāyūn with a scribe and two servants.
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.19r
A portrait of a Mughal official
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.19v
A calligraphy
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.20r
A woman seated in a clearing in the woods
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.20v
A calligraphy
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.21
Mādhavānala faints in the presence of his beloved Kāmakandala
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.22
Prince Shujāʻ and his beloved on a terrace
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.23r
A lady looking at herself in a mirror held by a servant
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.23v
A calligraphy of Muḥammad Muʼmin al-Ḥusainī
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.24
[Akbar at a jharoka window].
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan in 1911. NNPM
MS M.458.25
Shāh Jahān with the sword of state
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.26r
An emaciated camel and an ascetic and a princess seated together in the mountains
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.26v
A calligraphy
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.27r
Bahādur Shāh pays homage to his ancestors
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.28r
A young man seated on a terrace smoking a water pipe
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.29
Zamān Shāh Pādshāh Ghāzī in battle
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.30r
A mullah, Ḥażrat-i Ghaus̤ al-Taqqānī, seated and holding prayer beads
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.30v
Emaciated horse and rider, with marbled background
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.31r
A hunter follows a female bhīl
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.31v
A calligraphy
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.32r
Ibrāhīm Adham of Balkh served by angels
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.32v
A calligraphy
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.33r
A calligraphy
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.33v
A frond of fern
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.34
Qurʼanic leaf from the Read Persian album
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan in 1911.
MS M.458.35r
A calligraphy of Sulṭān ʻAlī Mashhadī
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.35v
Mount with illustration removed
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.36r
A calligraphy by ʻAlī al-Ḥusainī
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.458.36v
An engraving of a bronze statue of Kunigunde, the sister of Maximilian I
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
MS M.1014
[The goddess with her lion and jackal].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1015
[The hidden, brazen lover (Pracchana Dhṛsṭa nāyaka) from the Rasikapriyā by Keśavadāsa].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1016
[Toḍī Rāgiṇī from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1017
[A court scene from a Nala-Damayantī series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1018
[Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā flying on Garuḍa].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1019
[Ūdham Rām Chatī (Chinī), the beloved of Farrukhsiyar (r. 1713-19), standing under a willow tree].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1024.1
[A raja conversing in a fortress and riding away on an elephant, from a Hamir Hath series].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1024.2
[The anxious heroine (Uṭkā Nāyikā)].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1024.3
[Ladies on a terrace listening to music].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1024.4
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa search for Sītā, from a Rāmāyaṇa series].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1024.5
[A portrait of Mahārāja Bhīm Singh of Jodhpur on his horse Sartāj].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1024.6
[A lady holding a bird].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1024.7
[A portrait of Abhirāj Singh of Jaswan].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1025.1r
[A European lady and child standing in a room].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1025.1v
[Calligraphy].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1025.2
[A portrait of a Muslim nolbleman holding a fan].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1025.3
[Pattern for a floral design].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1025.4
[A vase of flowers within an arcade (right half of design only)].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1980.
MS M.1034r
Recto, Bust of a woman holding a flower : miniature, full-page
Gift of Anna C. Walter, 1981.
MS M.1034v
Verso, A calligraphy : qitʻ̣a, quatrain
Gift of Anna C. Walter, 1981.
MS M.1035.1
Conversion of bricks to gold by Kālaka, a folio from a Kālakācāryakathānaka manuscript
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1981.
MS M.1035.2
[The defeat of the magical she-ass, a folio from a Kālakācāryakathānaka manuscript].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1035.3
[The elephant woman, from a Rasikapriyā of Keśavdāsa].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1035.4
Kṛṣṇa fights the titan crane Bakāsura, from a Bhāgavata Purāṇa.
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1981.
MS M.1035.5
[Mānamatī Rāgiṇī from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1035.6
[Venus and Cupid in a garden].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1035.7
[Rāma in battle with Khara's demons, from the "Shangri" Rāmāyaṇa].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1035.8
[Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī embrace].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1035.10
[Worship of Gaṇeśa].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1035.11
[A portrait of Samsar Chand of Kangra].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1035.9
[A scene from an unidentified romance].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1041.1
[The pining heroine, from an Amaruśataka series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1982.
MS M.1041.2
[Dhānaśrī Rāgiṇī, from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1982.
MS M.1041.3
[Kṛṣṇa uproots the Pārijāta tree and carries it away on Garuḍa, from a Bhāgavata Purāṇa].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1978.
MS M.1048.1
[Erotic scene, possibly from a Kāmasūtra].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1048.2
[Ladies attending a nobleman, possibly Mālavakauśika or Mālavapañcama Rāma from a Rāgamālā].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1048.3
[Pañcama Rāgiṇī of Dīpak, from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1048.4
[A celestial procession with Indra and a jina].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1048.5
[A tiger hunt].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1048.6
[A battle scene from a Rukmiṇī-haraṇa series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1048.7
[Surma Sen of Mandi grants an audience].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1049.1
[Deśākha Rāgiṇī, from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1049.2
[Mālava Rāgiṇī of Dīpak, from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1049.3
[A female singer entertains a lady, possibly from a Rāgāmālā series].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1049.4r
[Saif al-Mulk hawking on a camel's back, possibly by Venkatchellam].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1983.
MS M.1059.1
[Raja Nerjan Singh, Fatḥ Singh, and companions riding camels].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1984.
MS M.1059.2
[Kalyāṇ Rāga, from a Rāgāmālā series].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1978.
MS M.1059.3
[Death of Bhīṣma, from a Mahābhārata].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1979.
MS M.787
A peri holding an effigy of the sun rides a composite lion
MS M.990
[The court of Jarāsandha and the departure of his army for Mathurā, a folio from a Bhāgavata Purāṇa].
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.1060.1
[Krishna sprayed with colored water at the Holi festival].
Gift; Mr. Paul F. Walter; 1984.
MS M.1060.2
[Vasanta Rāga, from a Rāgāmālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1984.
MS M.1060.3r
[An illustration from the Chandana Malayagiri Vārtā, a Jain folk tale from Rajasthan].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1984.
MS M.1060.3v
[An illustration from the Chandana Malayagiri Vārtā, a Jain folk tale from Rajasthan].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1984.
MS M.1060.4
[Two princes in conversation].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1984.
MS M.1060.5
[Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa offer oblations to a goddess, from a Rāmāyṇa series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1981.
MS M.1060.6
[A hermitage, from a Rāmāyaṇa series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1984.
MS M.1060.7
[Durgā confronts the titan Mahiṣūra, from a Devīmāhātmya series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1984.
MS M.1060.8
[Jarāsandha attacks Dvāraka, Kṛṣṇa's capital; from a Bhagavata Purāṇa].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1978.
MS M.1060.9
[Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā beneath a flowering tree].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1984.
MS M.991
[The independent heroine, from a Raskkapriyā by Keśavadāsa series].
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.992
[Rādhā's dream (Svapnadarśana), from the Kavi-priyā of Keśavadāsa].
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.993
[Kṛṣṇa's dread, from a Rasikapriyā series by Keśavadāsa].
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.994
[Scenes from the story of the abduction of Rukmiṇī, from a Bhāgavata Purāṇa].
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.995
Vilāval Rāgiṇī, from a Rāgamālā series
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.996
A portrait of Ṭhākur Śrī Rāj Singhjī
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.997
Kāmod Rāgiṇī, from a Rāgamāla series
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.998
[Kṛṣṇa dances with the gopis].
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.999
[The adoration of Śiva and Pārvatī].
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1978.
MS M.1006
[The elephant Dalbādal chasing his trainer].
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1979.
MS M.1007
[A shaikh and a prince conversing].
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1979.
MS M.1061
[The wrestler's arena at Mathurā, a folio from a Bhāgavata Purāṇa].
Gift of Marilyn Walter Grounds, 1978.
MS M.1008
[Raja Rādhekādas holding court].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1074.1
[A portrait of Nūr Jahān].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1074.2
[An elephant runs amuck].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1074.3
[A wandering ascetic].
Gift; Anna C. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1009
[Khambāvatī Rāgiṇī, from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1010
A warrior pierced with arrows, from an abridgement of Firdausī's Shāhnāma.
Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1979.
MS M.1011
[Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā walking hand-in-hand].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1075.1
[Karṇātī Rāgiṇī, from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1075.2
[Kṛṣṇa steals the clothes of the gopis]
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1075.3
[A romantic situation].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1075.4
[Deśākha Rāgiṇī, from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1075.5
[Bhairava Rāga, from a Rāgamālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1075.6
[A neglected beloved in the summer].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1075.7
[An ascetic and a dog].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1985.
MS M.1012
[Nata Rāgiṇī, from a Rāgāmālā series].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1013
[An equestrian portrait of Mādhav Rāo].
Gift; Paul F. Walter; 1979.
MS M.1127
Gift of Susan Yecies, 2002.
MS M.1202
Equestrian Portrait of Maharana Ari Singh of Mewar.
Gift of Barbara Timmer and Catherine Glynn Benkaim in honor of Paul F. Walter, 2017.
MS M.1208
Yantra diagram
Gift of Martin Filler, 2018.