Mughal painting, often written Mogul, is a type of painting that originated in India during the reigns of the Mughal emperors (16th-18th century), mostly for book decoration and the manufacture of individual miniatures. In its early stages, it owed much to the Afavid school of Persian art, but it quickly drifted away from Persian ideals. The illustrated folktale Tuti-nameh ("Tales of a Parrot") in the Cleveland (Ohio) Museum of Art is perhaps the first example of Mughal art.
Battles, legendary tales, hunting scenes, animals, royal life, mythology, and other subjects were often depicted in the paintings. These paintings also served as an essential medium for telling the Mughal monarchs' fantastic stories. This art style grew so popular that it was subsequently adopted by other Indian courts. The Victoria & Albert Museum in London has a sizable collection of Mughal art.
History and Origin
Miniature paintings were not unfamiliar in India. It has been existing in India since the 10th century. During the Delhi Sultanate era, miniature paintings thrived as well. Even though Babur founded the massive Mughal Empire, nothing concerning miniature paintings during his reign can be discovered in his book Baburnama.
Humayun created the groundwork for Mughal painting throughout his reign. Humayun was joined by two Persian painters, Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd al-Samad, as he returned from exile. These two painters made numerous exquisite paintings, notably Khamsa of Nizami, which had 36 illuminated pages with diverse artists' styles.
During Humayun's reign, there aren't many Mughal paintings. During his exile, he commissioned the Princess of the House of Timur, which is currently housed in the British Museum. Mughal paintings were most popular under the reigns of Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. After Humayun's death, his son Akbar went on and extended Mughal art and architecture, as well as numerous paintings.
Growth of Mughal Painting
Mughal paintings in India flourished and evolved throughout the reigns of Mughal Emperors Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan.
Under Akbar
Under Akbar's administration, the Mughal era's art flourished on a grand scale. A big number of painters were painting at the time under the guidance of two Persian artists. Because Akbar was fascinated in stories, his paintings are based on the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Persian epics. Mughal paintings displayed elevated realism, which was accompanied with animal stories, portraits, landscapes, and so on.
Under Jahangir
Emperor Jahangir ruled from 1605 until 1627 and was a strong supporter of different art disciplines, particularly painting. Brushwork became more refined during this time, as did the use of lighter, more muted hues. The principal topics of Mughal paintings focused on incidents from Jahangir's life, as well as portraits, birds, flowers, animals, and so on. The visual drawings of the Jahangir-nama, Emperor Jahangir's biography, are one of the most prominent examples of Mughal art from this period.
Under Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan was not just interested in building, but also in art. During his reign, the world-famous Taj Mahal was constructed for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. During his time, his paintings got more stiff and conventional. The majority of the paintings have garden or nature themes. It also featured couples in intimate positions as well as musical events. During the Shah Jahan era, Mughal paintings flourished and became more polished.
The most significant work commissioned during his reign is known as "Padshanama." It is a modern chronicle commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Padshanama had various paintings that recounted the king's accomplishments. It included exquisite pictures of the king's courtiers.
Under Aurangzeb
During his reign, Aurangzeb neither fostered nor advanced Mughal painting. Without Aurangzeb's assistance, the Mughal Paintings received little support and encouragement from the people. However, it is said that some of the finest paintings were created during his time. It is recognised and believed that during his reign, Aurangzeb ordered the closure of all workshops, forcing all artists to work hard and produce some of the finest paintings.
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