An Illustration from the Baburnama, c. 1590-1593 Laying out of the Garden of Fidelity, right A larger image of 'Babur supervising the laying out of the Garden of Fidelity, right, Baburnama'. By Bishndas & Nanha. Victoria and Albert Museum IM 276-1913 23/E6 This painting is the right half of a double-page composition (the left-hand page is Museum no. IM.276A-1913) depicting the Mughal emperor Babur (1483–1530) superintending the laying-out of the Garden of Fidelity at Kabul in the northern reaches of the Mughal empire (now in Afghanistan). Originally a Timurid prince in central Asia, Babur seized Kabul in 1504 and used it as a base for campaigns into Hindustan, where he founded the Mughal dynasty. The Garden of Fidelity (Bagh-e Vafa) was the first of many gardens he created. Situated to the south of Kabul, it was divided into quarters, fringed with orange and pomegranate trees and surrounded by a wall. The image shows the red sandstone wall and gateway of the garden, outside which the emperor’s horse and retinue are waiting. Previous: Babur supervising the laying out of the Garden of Fidelity, left Next: 1505, Babur and his army arriving at Bila on the Indus Back to Mughal Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers in the Baburnama |