Princes of the House of Timur: conservation and examination of an early Mughal painting

'Princes of the House of Timur' is one of the most important of Mughal paintings, due to its large size and early date: it is thought to have been started c. 1555, at the beginning of the Mughal empire in India. It is painted on cotton and depicts Mughal rulers and their associates, seated in and around a pavilion. Prior to conservation, a scientific examination was undertaken. This involved an investigation into materials used in previous repairs on the painting, and recording the condition of the painting by various photographic techniques. After removal of the painting from its stretcher, pigment analysis was undertaken to investigate areas of deterioration and identify overpainted sections. The pigments used for each of the colours are discussed, and degradation associated with verdigris and orpiment is detailed. The full conservation treatment, involving repair, deacidification and remounting, is presented. Considerations for continued preservation of the painting are outlined.