3.

THE MUGHAL SCHOOL(STYLE) OF MINIATURE PAINTING.

Origin and Development:

Mughal School of miniature painting developed in the Northern Indian subcontinent in the 16th to first half
of the 19th century. This is known for the theme, style of art, human figures and artists of the Islamic art came
from the Islamic world of Persia or Iran and Turkey. Its amalgamation with Indigenous themes and style, tradition
of Indian miniature painting.

 Golden Period of Art (Akbar).

 Golden Period of Painting (Jahangir).
 Golden Period of Architecture (Shahjahan).
Features and Characteristic of Mughal School of Painting:
 Book Illustrations are the prime subject.
 Male dominated paintings.
 Mostly Mughal Painting were part of Album and Manuscripts.
 Painting Process:
o Sheets of handmade paper were prepared and cut to suit the size of manuscript.
o Designated space was left for the artist to fill with composition.
o Page fill with text.
o Then artist fill with composition related to the text.
o Painting finish by 3 to 5 artists.
 No painting done by single Artists, Always done by group of Artists.
 Figures are depicted in profile or quarter profile.
 In Jahangir reign the Nature is shown in the delightful paintings of Birds, Animals and flowers
representations.
 The calligraphic inscription, ‘Halo’ around the emperor’s head and decorative ‘Hasiah’ are the special
feature in this style.
 After Completing the work burnish the work to set the colour.
Colour and Technique:
 The painters in the atelier were also master in making colours.
 Handmade paper.
 Opaque colour- flat/अपारदर्शी
 Colour made by Natural sources, (Flower, Leaves etc).
 Brushes made by Squirrels or Kittens’s Hair.
 Artists were given incentives and increments in their salary according to the work.
 Master Artists enjoyed their position in Royal Atelier.
 Pigment and colours achieved from those were-
o Vermilion (red) from- Mercury sulphide
o Ultramarine (blue) from- Lapis Lazuli.
o Bright yellow from- Orpiment (arsenic trisulfide).
o White from- Shells (conch).
o Lampblack from – Charcoal.
o Gold and silver powder for Flashy touch.
Mughal Emperors In India (1526-1857)
1. Babur: 1526- 1530 AD.
2. Humayun: 1530- 40 And 1555- 1556 AD.
3. Akbar: 1556- 1605 AD.
4. Jahangir: 1605- 1627 AD.
5. Shahjahan: 1627- 1658 AD.
6. Aurangzeb: 1658- 1707 AD.

Last: Bahadur Shah Zafar. 1837- 1857 AD.

Babur: 1526- 1530 AD.

 Mughal Empire established by Babur in 1526 AD.
 Birth: 14 feb 1483 AD.
 Died26 Dec 1530 AD.
 Tomb : Bagh-i-Babur,Kabul (Afganistan).

 Son: Humayun

 Babur interest: Poetry, Philosophy, Art etc.

 Autobiography Name: Tujuk-i-Baburi/ Baburnama.
 Baburnama reflects the love for Art/painting that Babur had.
 He mention in Baburnama that Bihzad’s work was dainty but he did not draw the faces well.
 Bihzad was a master artist from the Persian school of Painting.
 Bihzad called Raphael of the East.
 One more artist Shah Muzaffar finds a mention a painter, who was great in making hairstyle.
 Babur brought with him a book name Shah Nama (Iranians kings stories)
Humayun: 1530-40 and 1555- 56 AD.

 Birth: 6 march 1508 AD. In Kabul.

 Died: 26 Jan1556 AD.
 Tomb: Humayun Tomb Delhi.

 Son: Akbar

 Established: Library in Deen-i-Panah Mahal.

 Founded: NigaarKhana (painting workshop), part of his library.
 He Invited two Persian Artists Mir Sayyid Ali, Abdus Samad, for carry out royal paintings.
 Both the Artist were famous for their outstanding portraiture skills.
 Mir Sayyid Ali Known as Nadir Ul Asar
 Abdus Samad Known as Shiri Kalam/ Shiraji
 Humayun Started Hamza Nama.
 Hamza Nama (Dastan-i-Amir Hamza): Narrates the legendary exploits of Amir Hamza uncle of Prophet
Muhammad. (Completed in 15 years.)
 Hamza Nama completed in Akbar Period.
 Hamza Nama completed in 15 years.
 Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad bothe were the students of Bihzad.
Architecture:
 Din-i-Panah Mahal
 Sher-i-mandal Library.
 Humayun tomb Built by - Haji Begum – in Akbar period.
 Biography- Humayun Nama – by- Gulbadan Begum (sister of Humayun).

Akbar: 1556- 1605 AD.

 Name: Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar
 Father: Humayun.

 Son: Jahangir (salim).

 Birth Place: AmerKot (Now Sindh Pakistan).

 Famous wives: Jodha Begum, Ruquiya Begum.
 Akbar Established Karkhana (Atelier) in Fatehpur Sikri Under the supervision of Abus Samad.
 Maximum Profile portrait in Akbar court.

Akbar Period’s Manuscripts:

o Timur Nama: In this Manuscript Mughals Shows as great Muslim dynasty by connecting them
with the timurids and the Mongols.
o Tuti Nama: The Tuti-NamaContained within a larger story about a parrot.
o Akbar Nama: Akbar Biography – by Abul Fazal (100 Artists in Akbar court *Important 13 Hindu, 4
Muslim Artists).
o Babur Nama: Translation of Tujuk-Baburi- by Abdur Rahim KhaneKhana
o Hamza Nama(Dastan-i-Amir Hamza): Narrates the legendary exploits of Amir Hamza or Hamza
ibnAbdul-Muttalib. (Completed in 15 years.)
o Hamza Nama by- Ata Ullah Kazbini.
o Hamza Nama consist 14 Volumes, 1400 Illustrations.
o Bakayat-i- Babri: by Abdul Rahim Khan Khana (Describe about 19 Hindu Artists, 3 Muslim
Artists).

Translation During Akbar Period:

o Mahabharata- Razam Nama (Farsi) –by Abdul Qadir Badayuni, completed in 6 years, 169
painting, 48 Artists.
o Ramayana (Sanskrit)- (Farsi) by Abdul Qadir Badayuni.
o Panchatantra- Anwar-i-Suhaili/ Ayyar-i-Danish- by – Abul Fazal.
o Tutinama- Parrot Story
o Bestest Painting of Akbar court- Birth of Salim by Ramdas.
o Tujuk-i-Baburi( Turkish language)- Babur Nama (Farsi language) by Abdul Qadir Badayuni.
 Mural Painting started during the Period of Akbar (Fatehpur Sikri).
Main Artist:
 Mir Sayad Ali:
o Brought- Humayun
o Student of Bihzad
o Court painter- Akbar
o Poetry writer with name of Judai.
 o Earlier court painter of Iranian King Shah Tamashp.
o Outstanding Famous work:-Started Dastan-i-Amir Hama (1555-1570) 15years.

 Abul Abus Samad: (other name – Shiraji or Shiri Kalam)

o Brought- Humayun
o Court Painter- Akbar
o Student of Bihzad
o Famous student- Daswant and Basavan.
o Earlier court painter of Iranian King Shah Tamashp.
o Outstanding notable work: Completed Dastan-i-Amir Hamza.

• Daswant:
o Famous work- Timur Nama, Rajam NamaamdDastan-i-Amir Hamza, Master in Hindu- Devi
DevtasPainting.
 Basavan:
o Master in Cover page making.
o 40 years Art Work
o 200+ painting
o Ramayana painting, Manju, Darwar Nama.
 Miskin:
o Birds and Animal Artist of Akbar’s Court.
Other Artist:
o Farukh Beg, Keshavlal, Mukund, Sawaldas, Jagannath, Tara, Harvansh, Madhu, Dharamdas,
BhimEtc. (6 Gujrati Artists were there).

Architecture of Akbar’s Period:

Fort, Court, Masjid, Tomb, Darwaje etc.
 Lal Kila, Agra.
 Fatehpur Sikri:
o Something 500 Buildings.
o Akbar Mahal.
o Jahangir Mahal.
o Jodha Bai Mahal.
o Shish Mahal.
o Panch Mahal
 Ajmer Fort.
 Allahabad Fort.
 Agra Fort- By Red stone.

Material for Paintings:

o Paper- Iranian and Shiyalkoti
o Akbar established Paper Karkhana- Shiyalkot.
o Brushes called - Kalam
o Artist called – Kalam Kataar or Mushavvir.
o Art Studio – Karkhana.
Painting:
 Tittle: Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhana.
 Artist: Miskin
 Period: Akbar
 Medium & Technique: Water colour, Tempera
 Collection: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York,
USA
Subject Matter:
In this painting artist shows the time when
Krishna once lifted the Goverdhana mountain on his
little finger to protect the Gokul-waasi from the wrath of
Indra.

Composition:
o Episode based on Bhagwat Purana.
o Krishna depicted as the Hero.
o Krishna lifted Govardhan Parwat on their little
finger of left hand.
o Gokul’s people (brajvasi) and their animal showing under it.
o Krishna saves People from the wrath of Indra.
o Mountain Shows like Umbrella.
o Mount Govardhana is shown in a very decorative style with massive rocks, large trees and many
types of animals such as deer and monkeys.
o It is a beautiful composition of Akbar's reign, showing his respect and love for Hindu religion and
culture.
o Artist use multicolour in it.
o Krishna painted in dark blue colour.
o Krishna wearing yellow colour dhoti.

Jahangir:(Golden Period of Painting) 1605-1627:

 Name: - Salim
 Mother: Jodha Bai.
 Father: Akbar.
 Famous wives: Nurjahan, Man Bai, Manwati.
 Tomb- Saradha Lahore.

Main artists:
 Akarija – Master Artist (Iranian famous painter).
 Abul Hasan (son of Akarija/ Shahi friend of Jahangir).
 Abul Hasan- Portrait artist
  Mansoor- Animals and Birds.
 Visandas- Realistic (portrait)
 Manohar – Hunting Scene.
 Miskin- Birds, Animal.
 Farukh Beg, Murad, Nadir, Govardhan, Tulsi,

 Biography- Tujuk-i-Jahangiri (memories of Jahangir)

 Tujuk-i-jahangiri’sFrunt page made by Abul Hasan.
 Murakkas or Album popular under Jahangir.
 Margin of the Border of the painting made by Gold etc.
 Depiction of Europeans paining for gifted to Europeans who visited in his court.
 Some Christian themes were also done in his curt.
 Art of his time – Indigenous, Persian and European.
 Famous Paper Shiyalkoti.
 Album or Murkka famous under in Jahangir Period.

Famous Paintings:
 Jahangir in Darbar (Jahangir Nama) attributed to Abul Hasan and Manohar (1620).
 Jahangir Dream (1628-32) By Abul Hasan (Got tittle- Nadir-al-Zaman {wonder of the Age}).
 Mansoor Tittle- Nadir-al-Asr.

Architecture of Jahangir’s Period:

 Aitmat- Ud- Dola (tomb) –Nurjaha’s Father
 Jahangir Tomb- by Nurjahan
 Akbar Tomb Shikandra- Agra.

Syllabus painting:
 Tittle: Falcon on a Bird Rest.
 Artist: Ustaad Mansoor.
 Period: Jahangir.
 Medium &Technique: water colour & Tempera.
 Collection: National Museum, New Delhi.

Subject Matter:
This painting shows Jahangir’s love toward Birds and
Animals. It was a special bird from Persia. It was gifted
by Shah Abbas Emperor of Iran and Jahangir’s friends.
Composition:
o Jahangir loves too much to Bird and animals.
o It was a special bird from Parsia gifted by his friend Shah Abbas.
o Later, it was killed by a cat.
o This painting in Jahangir Nama.
o This is one of the Mansoor’s realistic depiction.
o Bird is painted in white colour against the yellowish background.
o Border in black colour with golden colour.
o 3 words visible in the painting-
o Which is in Devanagri Script— जहाााां गीर-पातस्याह, बहरी, उत्तम.

Shah Jahan: (Golden Period of Architecture& Mughal Dynasty): 1628- 1658 AD:
 Name: Prince Khurram
 Birth- 1592- 1666 AD.
 Father: Jahangir
 Mother: Manavati.
 Wife: Arjumand Bano Begum (Mumtaz).
 Son: Aurangzeb and Dara Sikoh.
 Tomb- World famous Taj mahal.
 Padshanama is one of the famous painting projects of Shahjahan period.
 Padshanama by Abd-al-Hamid Lahori.
 Compositions to portray royal, historical and mystic subjects.
 Shah Jahan encouraged the artists in the atelier to create magnificent works that were a blend of
imagination and documentation.
 Use of jewel-like colours, perfect rendering and intricate fine lines.
 His love for sparkling jewels and gems, passion for monumental architecture.

Main Artist:
 Faquir Ullah Khan, Mir Hasim, Honhar, Bichitra, Fateh Chandra etc.

Architecture:
 White Marble was the Favorite material.
 World Famous Taj Mahal- Agra.
 Lal Kila (Red Fort)- Delhi. (Kila-i-Mubarak):

Some famous Buildings in Red Fort Delhi:

o Deewan-i-Aam, Deewan-i-Khas,
o Nahar-i-Bahisht, Janana, Khas Mahal, Hayat Bakhsh Bagh
 Jama Masjid- Delhi.
 Jama Masjid- Agra.
  Buildings in Agra Fort: -
o Deewan-i-Aam, Deewan-i-Khas, Shish Mahal, Khas Mahal, Anguri Bagh, Shah Burj, Moti Masjid, Macchi
Bhawan etc.

Syllabus painting:
 Tittle: Kabir and Raidas.
 Artist: Ustaad Faquir Ullah Khan.
 Period: Shahjahan (Provincial Period)
 Medium &Technique: Watercolour
&Tempera.
 Collection: National Museum, New Delhi.

Subject Matter:
Dara Shikoh had huge respect for the
Saints and Sufis. Dara Shikoh gives
respect to every religion. This painting was the one of the master piece of Faquir Ullah Khan.
Composition:
o Painting made by Faquir Ullah Khan requested on Dara Shikoh.
o Dara Shikoh, lovely son of Shahjahan.
o Dara Shiloh respect too much to Sufis.
o Kabir and Raidas shown in sitting position.
o Kabirdas weaving fabric on his handloom.
o Only Brown colour shades used in this painting.
o This is one of the horizontal paintings.
o Both saints looking in deep discussion on some subject.
o In Border dark brown and golden colour has used.

Syllabus Painting :
 Tittle: Marriage procession of Dara Shikoh
 Painter: Haji Madni.
 Period: Shah Jahan (Provincial Period)
 Medium & Technique: Water colour & Tempera.
 Collection: National Museum, New Delhi.
Subject Matter:
This the master piece and evidence of the Royal Marriage
procession of Shah Jahan’s son Dara Shikoh. The painting depicts Royal
arrangements and the happiest environment have been very well
depicted.

Composition:
o The Mughal prince is shown mounted on a brown horse
with the traditional sehra and is accompanied by his
father.
o Shah Jahan, who has a resplendent halo/nimbus around
his head, riding a white horse.
o The marriage procession is accompanied and received
by music, dance, gifts and fireworks.
o The artist has created the glamour of the marriage
procession with all its pomp and show.
o Border seen highly decorated.
o Colours: Red, Green, Maroon, grey, Black White etc.
o It is a beautiful night scene.

Aurangzeb: (1658-1707):
o Declining the Mughal Miniature Painting:

Aurangzeb did not put as much effort to elevate the production of the Mughal atelier. However, unlike the
popular belief the royal atelier was not shut down immediately and continued producing beautiful pointings.

Due to gradual decline of ardent patronage, highly skilled artists left the Mughal atelier and were
welcomed by provincial Mughal rulers. These rulers imitated the Mughal royalties and wanted to recreate in
paintings the glory of their dynasty and events of their court.

Painting:
 Some Portraits work done in their Period
 His own portraits also we can see from young age to old age.

Architecture:
 Badshahi Masjid, Lahore Pakistan.
 Bibi Ka Makbara, Aurangabad (copy of Taj Mahal)