Babur meeting with Sultan Ali Mirza at the Kohik River, from a Babur-nama (Memoirs of Babur)c. 1590 · Study 1971.85

Context from the museum

Thirty years before he captured Delhi and founded the Mughal Empire, Babur began his expansionist activities at the age of 13, as depicted in this painting of an encounter that took place in 1496. Having traveled long distances across harsh dry terrain, Babur confronted one of his rivals who, like him, was angling to march on and conquer the illustrious city of Samarkand, the former capital of his ancestor Timur.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Camels carry collapsed tents to be pitched for nightly encampments and parties.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected image measurement for Babur meeting with Sultan Ali Mirza at the Kohik River, from a Babur-nama (Memoirs of Babur) is 16.5 cm wide and 28 cm high, equivalent to approximately 6.5 × 11.0 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.59:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.05 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 5.5% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 141.8 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Babur meeting with Sultan Ali Mirza at the Kohik River, from a Babur-nama (Memoirs of Babur) in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Gum tempera and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 16.5 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?