Sultan Mohammed Adil Shah, anonymous, c. 1685
The Mughal emperors’ military successes in the 17th century went hand in hand with the dissemination of the Mughal style in the arts. Realistic rather than idealised portraits were then made for the first time. The artists based themselves on the likenesses of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1627-1658). The halo used to indicate the ruler’s royal status was also adopted from Mughal art.