Preparatory Equestrian Portrait of Bahadur Shah with an Attendant

The mounted figure is Bahadur Shah I, the seventh Mughal emperor (r. 1707-1712). He bears a halo, which denotes his divine-like status, and a thick, dark beard. He wears a turban, a robe (jama), and a waist sash (patka). Tucked into his sash is a dagger. He carries in his right hand a spear while his left clutches onto the reigns of his horse. Attached to the saddle is a quiver filled with arrows. Standing beside the horse is a bearded attendant wielding a large bat-like mace in his right hand, while holding onto the horse trappings with his left.