Essay On Mughal Painting

History of Mughal painting

“The miniatures of the Mughal period are really the pinnacle of Indian artistic achievement. And not a single one of those paintings is done by an individual artist.”

— Salman Rushdie

The Mughal painting had seen its widespread between the 16th and 19th centuries. It emerged from the Persian miniature painting but Indian artist followed the artistic freedom and supported naturalism in their vision with additional Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain influences. Mughal painting usually took the illustration form in a book or handmade sheets. Mughal art is associated with four periods, each period was named for whom the art form was developed those were as follow the Akbar Period, the Jahangir Period, the Shah Jahan Period,

• He did not follow the tradition of illustrating books but gave a primary importance to portraits.

• The finest works of during his period are elaborate court scenes depicting him as addressing his

• The composition of portraits lacks the vigor and aggressive movement with vivid color while the figures were more ordered, the colors are particularly soft and harmonious.

• During Jahangir 's period magnificent floral, geometrical and broad borders were introduced into the painting.

Methods and Techniques used Under Jahangir Regime

• Jahangir started to had contact with English crown and received a gift of oil painting from England, the influence of which could be seen in the paintings during his regime.

• These influences are evident in the illustrations of his biography the Jahangirnama, an account of Jahangir 's own life.

• Unlike the multi-layered style traditionally used in miniature painting, he encouraged his atelier to imitate the single point perspective as followed by European painters.

• In addition to portraits, many works including the broad margins perceived with plant and animal studies were included as a part of a painting.

• Unlike Akbar’s regime, most illuminated manuscripts were created by a single