A Gathering of Holy Men of Different Faiths 1745 - 1799

Mir Kalan Khan created this watercolor and gold painting called, "A Gathering of Holy Men of Different Faiths," sometime in the mid-18th century. The painting illustrates a coming together of religious figures, a concept resonant with the Mughal Empire's historically syncretic approach to faith. This progressive attitude was, of course, not without its limits and contradictions. The image creates meaning through its visual codes. We see holy men, possibly Sufi ascetics and Hindu sadhus, in conversation or contemplation. This was a period of relative stability in India but with the slow decline of the Mughal Empire, and, as such, intercultural dialogue may have been seen as especially important. This painting may have been commissioned by a patron who valued religious tolerance, or, perhaps, it presents an idealized version of it. Delving into court records and religious texts of the time helps us to better understand the social and institutional context that made such images possible. Art history continually evolves as we revisit artworks through the lens of historical and cultural understanding.