DETROIT – The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has acquired two historical artworks that will soon be available for the public to view.
The Virgin of Guadalupe and the Akbarnama folio will be part of the DIA’s permanent collection.
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“We are proud to bring these two special historical objects to Detroit, adding to the DIA’s wide-ranging permanent collection,” said DIA Director Salvador Salort-Pons. “Each of these important works of art enriches the visitor experience at our museum, supporting viewers’ discovery of diverse stories about humanity and history from around the world.”
Double-Sided Folio from a Manuscript of the Akbarnama
The rare double-sided folio comes from an imperial manuscript of the Akbarnama, or the Book of Akbar—which is a Persian text chronicling the history of Akbar, the third emperor of South Asia’s Mughal dynasty from 1526 to 1858.
The folio illustrates two moments from Akbar’s time as emperor. One side represents Akbar receiving the keys of Mankot Fort in the Himalayan Foothills, following a military victory there in 1557. The other side includes Persian texts and depicts an event that happened when Akbar returned to the imperial camp atop a temperamental horse named Hayran, which he succeeded in taming.
It’s believed the manuscript the pages once belonged to was made for Akbar’s mother, Hamida Banu Begum. Other pages from the manuscript have been found in a range of museums and private collections.
The folio will be ready for the public to view in 2025.
The Virgin of Guadalupe
The Virgin of Guadalupe painting represents the sacred figure who appeared to the Chimimec peasant Juan Diego in 1531.
The painting from the 17th century is known to be one of the earliest known depictions of the Virgin of Guadalupe to have been made by an indigenous artist.
It’s thought that Luis de Texada’s painting was commissioned by Juan de Mañozca y Zamora, a Catholic priest prelate from Spanish Basque country who served as Archbishop of Mexico from 1643 to 1650.
The Virgin of Guadalupe is on display in the DIA’s galleries.
Museum business hours, admission
The museum is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit the museum’s website for ticket prices. Tri-County residents get free admission—they must bring their ID to the front desk.
