Impact of the Mughals on Painting
Introduction
Mughals’ school of painting is one of the most significant innovations in the history of painting and particularly Indian painting. The Mughals style of painting is a blend of Islamic, Indian, and Persian styles which was created through the synthesis of the Safavid school of Persian painting and the Indian painting style. Mughals Paintings provides an accurate depiction of the life of rulers and often tell stories that reveal the social and political conditions as well as the courtly and social customs of the Mughal times.
Impact of the Mughals on Painting
Years after the fall of the Mughal empire, the Mughal paintings are still revered as an exceptional painting style with rich traditions that were created through a blend of Indian and Persian painting styles. After the establishment of the royal atelier under the leadership of Akbar, the Mughal painting style became distinctive and was mainly marked by rhythm, naturalism, and clothing objects that assumed Indian forms. These styles have influenced contemporary paintings and often included brilliant blossoms and exceptional depiction of foliage. The paintings also placed significant emphasis on portraiture and aspects of aging, sexuality, and death were common in the Mughal painting owing to intensive interactions with the modern and European world. included violent movements and extreme vigor in action.
The Mughul painting is considered a definitive style of painting that was confined to distinctive and unique miniatures that emerged from the Persian miniature style and was later influenced by Jain, Hindu, and Buddhist styles.
One of the most significant influences of the Mughal painting was the aspect of evolution in paintings. Initially, the paintings during the Mughal era showcased themes from Hindu Mythology and Persian literature. With time and through the contribution of various artists, these themes later evolved to depict the court life, life of the Sultans including their hunting skills and success in the battlefield. Initially, the Mughal painting assumed the form of book depictions or single sheets that were stored in the form of albums. This form of evolution that was experienced in the Mughal art developed through a distinct period beginning with the Akbar period and later progressed to the Jahangir era, the Shah Jahan era, and Aurangzeb period. Through this period of evolution, the paintings often centered around the themes of mythology, wildlife, legendary stories, royal life, and battles thus serving as a significant piece for depicting the history and narrating the lives of the Mughal emperors in the contemporary times. The significance of this art was depicted in various Indian courts and in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London that houses a notable collection of these paintings.
Turkey Cock, Mansur, 1612, ink, gold, and watercolor on paper, Victoria & Albert Museum
The figure above shows a turkey-cock that was made for Mughal emperor Jahangir by Mugarrab Khan as part of the collection of exotic animals and birds. It features floral borders, a feature that was famous in the Mughal painting and has since been adopted in contemporary artwork.
Another impact of the Mughals on painting was the introduction of oil paints that were most practiced during the Jahangir period.
Portrait of Charles V, Titian, 1548, oil on canvas (right)
After the death of his father, Jahangir influenced the Mughal painting through his strong artistic tastes and introduced the concept of having a single painter to work on a specific image instead of having concerted efforts from many artists. It was during his time that the Mughal artistry carried out a careful examination of plants and animals owing to his admiration for nature and beauty paintings. This work later influenced artwork by Rembrandt van Rijn who is mostly known for exceptional work on landscapes and the famous drawings of Aurangzeb, Shar Jahan, and Jahangir, among other paintings.
The Mughal painting also influenced painting through the introduction albums with paintings and samples of calligraphy that were mounted on pages with beautifully made borders that were well bound with gilded and lacquered leather. The Mughals brought various artists to the court who influenced the paintings in different ways. For instance, Akbar brought artists from Gujarat and Kashmir while Human invited artists from Persia among other parts of the world. Jahangir’s desire for quality work was mostly depicted through the work of Shah ‘Abbas (shown above) that was done by an artist from Iran. The generous use of bright colors in the painting and the floral borders is a depiction of the glory, pomp, and color enjoyed during the era.
The fine drawing of various calligraphic texts also enhanced the aspired appeal in the paintings, a feature that has become common in contemporary artwork. The Mughals art of calligraphy achieved its epitome as a result of Persian influence as explained by 3029. As shown in the figure below, calligraphy was executed in a unique and beautiful manner on miniatures and manuscripts in different attractive designs. The figure shows the writings on Akbar’s tomb that depicts a calligraphic band that is inscribed in golden color and a clean background in stucco.
Calligraphy inscribed in Akbar’s tomb
The emperors in the Mughal empire also contributed to the art of painting through continued patronization of artists from different parts of the world. The cultural blend particularly that between the Persian, Chinese, and Indian ideas created a synthesis of ideas and unique perspectives in art.
The artistic culture of the Indians achieved its peak during the Mughal period that carried a legacy through paintings and pictures that enabled the younger generation of artists to derive inspiration. It is through this artistry and continued blending of various forms of cultures that the landscape of Indian artwork got changed. As 2019 explains, the textual illustrations during the Mughal rule that started with Akbar and moved to his successors caused revolutionary changes to both sensual illustrations and paintings in contemporary times. As shown in the figure below, artists started to adopt vibrant colors and 3D effects in paintings and the replacement of wall paintings with individual miniatures and book illumination.
For instance, the figure above shows the romantic and graceful lifestyles during the 17th century under Emperor Jahangir who is painted in watercolor and gold. He is painted seated on a classic European-style chair showing the influence of European art in the Mughal paintings. The halo depicted around his head and the globe balanced in his right hand was probably used to showcase the emperor’s ascension to the throne and the aspect of kingship and world-seizer as his name depicts. The aspect of showing the ruler with a halo was adopted in art and was depicted in Hindustani Court art and in the works by Leonardo da Vinci such as the baptism of Christ and Last Supper among other works of art.
Although the significance of the Mughal painting was fast replaced by the influence from other styles such as the Pahari and Western painting, the Mughal painting left an ineradicable mark in various local courts and Hindu paintings that showcase Mahabharata and Ramayana among other paintings. The emperors influenced painting starting with Akbar who encouraged artists to make portraits and was followed by Jahangir and his successors.
Conclusion
The Mughal painting and royal patronage in artwork played a crucial role in the enrichment of Indian art which was later adopted in other parts of the world. The miniature paintings, calligraphy, and textual illustrations introduced during the Mughal era are still appreciated by art enthusiasts in different parts of the world. The influence behind the Mughal painting in contemporary art and architecture has been facilitated by the attitude of rulers towards artwork and the inherent peace, stability, and prosperity enjoyed in the empire. The Mughals also impacted the Indian and global culture through the evolution of painting themes, the availability of historical information about the courts, and the development of new styles of painting through the collusion of indigenous and Persian styles.
Bibliography
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Roy, Malini. “The Revival of the Mughal Painting Tradition during the Reign of Muhammad Shah.” Princes and Painters in Mughal Delhi, 1707–1857 (2012): 17-23.
Dalrymple, William. Princes & Painters: In Mughal Delhi 1707-1857. Penguin UK, 2013.
Sardar, Marika. “The Art of the Mughals after 1600.” Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.
Langara, “Posthumous Portrait of Muhammad Shah Rangeela, Cleveland Museum of Art, Studying a Mughal Painting. Retrieved from https://d2l.langara.bc.ca/d2l/le/content/161170/viewContent/2394651/View
Langara, “AHIS 1115 Lecture 7 The Mughals, part 1.” Retrieved from https://d2l.langara.bc.ca/d2l/le/content/161170/viewContent/2394605/View
Langara, “AHIS 1115 Lecture 7 The Mughals, part 2.” Retrieved from https://d2l.langara.bc.ca/d2l/le/content/161170/viewContent/2394605/View