ARTH303: Art of the Islamic World - Unit 5.7.1 Mughal
Miniatures
Q: What are the characteristics of the earliest Mughal illuminated manuscripts?
A: The first Mughal illuminated manuscripts were produced under the reign of
Akbar, who established a royal workshop at Fatehpur Sikri. Artisans working
for Akbar were Persian and South Asian Muslims and Hindus. These artisans
created a distinctively syncretic style that incorporated Persian, South Asian,
Chinese, and European elements, with an emphasis on naturalism not seen in
earlier illuminated manuscripts. Jahangir, Akbar’s son, continued to produce
manuscript in this style, but favored Europeanized subjects, nature studies, and
works done by single artists.
Tags: Cultural Interaction, Illuminated Manuscripts, Islamic Art, Mughal
Empire
Q: Could you talk a little bit more about the production of illuminated
manuscripts under the Mughal Empire?
A: The Mughal workshops were organized along Persian lines. Painters
worked from a group of collected sketches and tracings that formed the
building blocks of new works. Sometimes several artists would work on one
painting, with a master artist determining the compositions, and then specialists
would work on other parts of the painting. At other times a painting would be
the work of a single artist. Once a painting was complete, it was handed over
to other artists who specialized in mounting paintings onto pages with
decorative borders or binding them into books or albums.
Tags: Illuminated Manuscripts, Islamic Art, Mughal Empire
Q: Why are Mughal emperors depicted with a halo?
A: Mughal emperors are depicted with a halo because of the belief that they
were special beings touched by divinity who radiated the light of Allah. Akbar
took this idea to an extreme, founding a short-lived religion called Din-ilahi
(Divine Faith).
Tags: Illuminated Manuscripts, Islamic Art, Mughal Empire
Q: What is the Padshahnama?
A: The Padshahnama (Chronicle of the King of the World) contains 42
illustrations that are considered to be masterpieces of Mughal painting. The
Padshahnama chronicles part of the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan
(whose name literally means “king of the world”). The illustrations are also
important historical documents in their own right, and include recognizable
portrait likenesses of the key figures at the Mughal court. Illustrations from the
Padshahnama, which focus on formal portraits and life at court, are
characteristic of illuminated manuscripts during Shah Jahan’s reign.
Tags: Illuminated Manuscripts, Islamic Art, Mughal Empire
Q: What are Rajput paintings?
A: Rajput paintings were made for the princes of Rajasthan and Punjab, who
were ruled by the Mughal Empire. Rajput painting, which developed at the
courts of these local rulers, bears a strong Mughal influence. By the beginning
of the 18th century, each of these courts had developed its own distinct regional
style. Rajput painting often focuses on heroic narratives, romances, the
worship of the Hindu god Krishna, and court life. You can see two examples
of Rajput painting below.
A Rajput king worshipping Krishna, c. 1700. © Trustees of the British Museum. The above image is in the collection of
the British Museum. For terms of use, please see here. The original version can be found here.
Men hunting wild boar, c. 1775. © Trustees of the British Museum. The above image is in the collection of the British
Museum. For terms of use, please see here. The original version can be found here.
Tags: Cultural Interaction, Illuminated Manuscripts, Islamic Art, Mughal
Empire