The Witsen album

A collection of 49 miniature works, made in 17th-century Golconda (present-day Hyderabad), to help European textile traders familiarise themselves with India. The collection features portraits of rulers including Maratha warrior-king Shivaji (pictured here), Mughal emperor Akbar and Kachwaha Rajput ruler Man Singh. They were brought to the Netherlands in 1686.

On view at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The collection is named for the Dutch colonial administrator Nicolaas Witsen.