Mumtaz Mahal which literally means the crowning beauty of the palace, was the title Shahjahan had awarded to his wife Arjumand Banu Begum after she was married to him. Her aunt Nurjahan was the wife of Jahangir (father of Shahjahan). Initially Nurjahan greatly favored her niece and her husband Shahjahan. But when her daughter from a previous marriage Ladli begum was married to another of Jahangir's sons, she became biased against Mumtaz Mahal. Shahjahan was charged of rebellion and he had to flee the capital city. He was given a hot pursuit. During this phase of struggle uncertainties, insecurity and miseries, Mumtaz Mahal was his only friendly counsel. She bore him fourteen children and incidentally met her death while delivering a child. When she died, she was at Burhanpur and was hence buried there. It was only after the Tajmahal had been built that her mortal remains were transferred to her new abode.
In this portrait her likeness has been brought out with great accuracy. Her large eyes, thick deep eye-brows, oval face, large forehead, long, thick dark hair, gold-like complexion, her typical crown are all features that her contemporary portraits reveal.
To find his figure's form, and the rich tones of his delicately used gold, pink and pale yellow against a similar plain background was itself a difficult task. But the artist has proved up to it.
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