Mughal School of Paintings
The Mughal style of painting developed as a result of a harmonious blending of indigenous Indian artistic traditions and the Safavid school of Persian painting, with later influences from Europe.
The themes of Mughal paintings were primarily secular in nature.
Humayun, who had spent over twelve years in Persia as a refugee, brought Persian painters with him to India when he regained the throne of Delhi in 1555.
Among the most prominent of these painters were Mir Sayid Ali and Abdus Samad, who played a significant role in developing the tradition of manuscript painting.
One notable example is Dastan-e-Amir Hamza, which contains nearly 1,200 illustrations.
The Mughal period also saw the rise of portrait and miniature paintings, and baramasa (seasonal) paintings were created with artistic flair.
Emperors such as Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan continued to support these artists, ensuring that the Mughal painting tradition thrived.
Notable painters from Akbar’s court included Dasvanath, Baswan, Manohar, Daulat, and Mansur.
The Mughal school of painting reached its peak during the reign of Jahangir, who was also a talented painter.
His court attracted renowned artists like Ustad and Abul Hasan, while Mansur gained fame for his miniature paintings.
During Jahangir's reign, an illustrated animal fable book called Ayar-i-danish was created, and one of the most famous paintings from his period depicts Jahangir holding a picture of the Virgin Mary. Under Shah Jahan, important illustrated manuscripts like Gulistan and Bustan by Sadi were produced.
The Tutinama is considered one of the earliest examples of Mughal miniature painting, being a translation of the collection of stories known as Sukasaptati. Illustrations from Hamzanama also appeared on cloth, further contributing to the Mughal artistic legacy.
