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Nizam de Hyderabad, Inde
Nizam de Hyderabad, Inde

Nizam de Hyderabad, Inde

Place of OriginHyderabad, Telangana state, India
Dateearly 1870s
MaterialsAlbumen silver print
DimensionsH. 8 3/8 in x W. 11 9/16 in, H. 21.3 cm x W. 29.4 cm (image)
Credit LineFrom the Collection of William K. Ehrenfeld, M.D.
Object number2005.64.154
DepartmentSouth Asian Art
ClassificationsPhotography
On View
Not on view
More Information

The boy in light-colored garments in the center of this photo is Mahbub Ali Khan (reigned 1869–1911), the sixth ruler (nizam) of Hyderabad, who began his reign when he was only three years old. He loved clothing and had a huge wardrobe. Mahbub Ali Khan was thought to be the richest person in the world. The dominions under his control, ruled from Hyderabad, constituted the largest princely state in India. Courtiers seen in this posed picture include Muslim and Hindu leaders and officials from all over the state.

Mahbub Ali Khan later appointed Lala Deen Dayal, whose work is represented in this exhibition by an album and the scene of a Calcutta stream to your left, as his court photographer. The Asian Art Museum has in its collection a large 1906 portrait of Mahbub Ali Khan (2005.64.172) similar in composition and detail to known photographs of the ruler by Lala Deen Dayal.