Key Features of Mughal Paintings

Some key features of Mughal paintings are:

The Mughal paintings are known as Mughal miniature paintings’ because of their small size.
Mughal paintings represent a fusion of Persian, Indian, and European styles of art. They combine miniature traditions of Iran and Central Asia with local Indian traditions.
Mughal paintings are known for their lavish use of gold and vibrant colors. The bright pigments create a rich visual canvas.
Mughal paintings are characterized by fine detailing, delicate brushstrokes, and graded shading. These lend them a majestic quality. The scale was mostly miniature.
Mughal paintings depicted court life, royal persons, landscapes, mythological scenes, and events from religious texts.
Though not fully realistic, Mughal paintings aimed for contextual naturalism.
Over time, individual painters emerged and developed distinct styles.

Description

Mughal paintings refer to a style of miniature painting. They developed during the reign of the Mughal Empire from the 16th to the 18th century. The Mughals patronized painting, literature, and architecture. Mughal emperors established the tradition of miniature painting at their courts. Mughal paintings show a synthesis of Persian, European, and Indian styles. They are renowned for their brilliance of color, the delicacy of execution, and the fusion of artistic traditions. This style of miniature painting reached its artistic zenith under Akbar and Jahangir.

Mughal Painting is one of the essential topics for UPSC IAS Aspirants. It is a subpart of Art and Culture. Candidates preparing for UPSC will find it helpful.

History & Origin of Mughal Paintings

The Delhi Sultanate reigned over most of the Indian subcontinent prior to the emergence of the Mughal Empire.
Miniature painting has been developing in many places since the 10th century, and it flourished in numerous regional courts throughout the Sultanate of Delhi.

When Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, returned from exile, he took two renowned Persian artists – Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd al-Samad – with him.
These Persian artists created several notable paintings, notably the ‘Khamsa of Nizami,’ based on Humayun’s directions.

These paintings strayed from traditional Persian art, resulting in the birth of a new art form known as ‘Mughal Painting.’ Subsequent Mughal kings expanded on the Mughal paintings.
The Tutinama (‘Tales of a Parrot’) Painting is the first example of the Mughal style of painting