Emperor Jahangir Triumphing over Poverty

This work is part of a series of allegorical paintings commissioned by the Mughal emperor Jahangir in 1616-18.

[3] A famine, which swept across Mughal India prior to Jahangir's accession might explain the subject matter.

This deliberately contrasts with the traditional depiction of Hindu ascetics, who are usually shown with white skin and black hair.

[3][6] Jahangir is shown wearing a mauve jama, with a katzeb tied around his waist, with a sun-like halo encircling his head.

It is part of the iconography of various figures including Solomon, commonly portrayed seated upon a throne surrounded by the animals over which he had been granted dominion.

[7] The lion might also be a representation of the Mughal empire, with its accompanying sheep personifying Safavid Iran.

It is likely that the man represents Manu, the progenitor of humanity in Hinduism, and correspondingly, the fish is a reference to the Matsya incarnation of Vishnu.

The emperor might be performing a similar ritual here, and an inscription on the painting notes that he is recreating the world anew.

[11][12] One of the manuscripts has illustrations of the Hindu god Rama, who along with his brother Lakshmana, is shown shooting arrows at various monsters.

It is probable that this painting draws from Jahangir Shooting the Head of Malik Ambar (pictured), painted by the same artist. [ 2 ]
The emperor stands on a globe , where a lion and sheep are placed together by his feet. The globe rests upon a bearded man, likely Manu, who in turn lies upon a fish, likely Matsya .
Daliddar , the personification of poverty, is depicted as a dark-skinned man with white hair. This deliberately contrasts with the depiction of Hindu ascetics, who are shown with light skin and dark hair.