11.4 Mughal-Painting

Mughal Painting

2020-04-27 12:37 :38


Mughal Era Miniature Painting :

  • Glorified the ruler, focusing on hunting scenes, historical events and other court related paintings.
  • Religious paintings were virtually absent.
  • They introduced the technique of foreshortening where objects looked close and smaller than they really were.

Early Mughals :

  • Babur patronized artists like Bizhad.
  • Humayun patronized artists like Abdus Samad and Mir Sayyid Ali. They both went on to work under Akbar as well.

Akbar :

  • Estd a formal artistic studio called Tasvir Khana.
  • use of 3 D figures defining feature and use of calligraphy.
  • saw transformation of popular art to court art.
  • Other imp artists Daswant, Basawan and Kesu.
  • Prominent illustrated manuscripts made during his time were. Hamzanama, Tutinama, Anvar i suhaili and Gulistan of Sadi

Fine Arts

  • Akbar nationalised all arts by extending liberal patronage
  • Gave 1st definite impulse, Mughal school of painting
  • Mir Sayyid Ali of Tabriz, Khawaja Abdus Samad style the Shirinqalam - sweet ppen
  • Daswanth, Basawan
  • Dastan I Amir I Hamza rep in 12 volumes,
  • Ain I Akbari, Razmnama, Ramayana, Nal Damayanti, Kalia Damnah, Aiyar Danish
  • Abdul Hasan title Nadir Uz Zaman under Jehangir
  • Others under him were Farruk Beg, Nadir, Murad, Bishan Das, Madhava, Manohar, Tulsi, Keshava brother
  • Under SJ painters were Md Qadir, Mir Hasan, Anup Chitra, Chintamani,

Jahangir :

  • Paintings at zenith.
  • naturalism related depicting flora and fauna.
  • unique trend use of decorated margins.
  • Famous artists were Ustad Mansoor.
  • Imp works of this period are Ayar i Danish and Tuzuk i Jahangiri.

Narrative Painting under Akbar and Jehangir

Shah Jahan

  • Artificial elements with reduced liveliness. European influence.
  • Use of Charcoal, pencil and gold and silver were seen to make drawings.
  • The Padshahnanma showing courtiers and servants of the kings was an imp work of this period.

Aurangzeb :

  • Art declined as he was not enthusiastic but this led to the dev of regional school.

Influence of Rajput Style on Mughal Painting and Art :

PYQs

Mughal painting

  1. Write a short essay on: "Narrative paintings under Jahangir and Akbar." [1994, 20m]



  1. Write a short essay on: "During the reign of Jahangir Mughal painting reached its zenith." [2000, 20m]
  1. Write a short Essay on: "Mughal painting" [2005, 20m]
  1. Write a short Essay on: "Mughal painting" [2007, 20m]
  1. Mughal paintings reflect the contemporary socio-political conditions. - Discuss. [2011,
    30m]
  1. Delineate the development of the Mughal painting during the reign of Jahangir. [2016, 10 Marks]
  1. "Mughal paintings reflect social harmony in contemporary society." Discuss. [2017, 15
    Marks]

Mughal paintings were a reflection of the contemporary society of the Mughal Empire. They depicted various aspects of Mughal life, including courtly scenes, hunting, and historical events. These paintings were commissioned by the Mughal rulers and were created by skilled artists. The paintings were a reflection of the society in which they were created and therefore, provide valuable insights into the social and cultural life of the Mughal Empire.

One of the significant features of Mughal paintings is their depiction of social harmony. The Mughal Empire was a diverse society, with people from different religions and cultures living together. The Mughal rulers were known for their religious tolerance, and this is reflected in their paintings. The paintings often depict people from different religions and cultures living together in harmony. For example, paintings of the court often show people from different religions, such as Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, interacting with each other.

Moreover, Mughal paintings also reflect the social hierarchy of the society. The paintings often depict the Mughal rulers and their courtiers, who were at the top of the social hierarchy. However, they also depict people from lower social classes, such as farmers, artisans, and merchants. These paintings show how people from different socia