2-735-623 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Mughal ruler Humayun defeating the Afghans before reconquering India, folio from an Akbar-nama (Book of Akbar) of Abu’l Fazl (Indian, 1551-1602), c. 1590. Babur’s son Humayun was ousted from India by an Afghan rebel in 1540, ten years after he came to the throne. After spending 15 years in exile, Humayun returned with military support from Iran and successfully reconquered Delhi. He also brought from Iran seven royal court artists who were invited to start a Mughal painting atelier. To illustrate the beginning of his own biography, Humayun’s son Akbar included this image of his father riding victoriously back to India.