This painting depicting Shah Alam II dates back to the 1800s. It is currently on display at National Museum, New Delhi.

Shah Alam II (also known Ali Gauhar) was the 16th Mughal Emperor. He inherited a crumbling and a rather small Mughal empire from his father Alamgir II in 1759. During his reign, the Mughal Empire extended only from Delhi to Palam - a suburb of Delhi, which was aptly described in Persian as “Sultanat -e- Shah Alam, Az Dilli ta Palam” (The Kingdom of Shan Alam is from Delhi to Palam only). The fortunes of Shah Alam II rarely prospered during his lifetime.

The picture of the painting of the Court of Shah Alam II painted by Khairullah portrays the Emperor in the centre sitting on the Peacock Throne or the Golden Throne. It shows the Emperor in a central and elevated platform highlighting his position in society. The Emperor has a halo around his head, depicting his position as a superior being. Shah Alam’s son Muinuddin Muhammad, also known as Akbar 1, is seated on his right on a throne platform. Akbar 1’s throne is partially lower than that of his father in the painting. On the left side of the Emperor, there are two other courtiers holding their staffs. The artist through this painting has tried to recreate an air of luxury that is often associated with Mughal artworks by placing the Peacock Throne in the centre.

The Peacock Throne in the picture was built by Shah Alam’s ancestor Emperor Shah Jahan to display the wealth, glory and splendour of the Mughal Empire. However, the Peacock Throne shown in this painting is a replica of the original throne. The original throne is said to be stolen by Nadir Shah, a Persian Emperor and was lost after his assassination in 1747. The throne depicted in the painting is a replacement throne modeled on the original and is made of gold and semi-precious and precious stones. The throne, like the original, has twelve columns and four peacocks carrying pearl necklaces - two on either end of the throne and two on top of the throne. The throne is further protected by a colony made out of gold and silver threads and colour textiles, which stands on metal on four slender columns. The throne was built in the shape of a peacock engraved with precious stones such as rubies, diamonds, emeralds and exquisite pearls were placed in a manner to imitate the colours of a peacock. Three cushions were placed in the centre of the throne where the Emperor sat on a large and round cushion at the back and two flat cushions on either side.

There have been several theories around the whereabouts of the original Peacock Throne, some claim the Peacock Throne has been dismantled and its parts were dispersed with or sold around Iran. There is also a claim that the British captured the Throne and while they were transporting it to London the sailing got shipwrecked and the sank, and no one has been able to locate it till date.