The Moghul Emperors
were enlightened patrons of art and they encouraged the art of painting. Emperor Akbar
and his successors are said to have learnt the art themselves and invited master artists to
their courts for illustrating many master-pieces of Sanskrit and Persian literature. The Moghul
Emperors brought with them Persian artists to India. The coming of the Moghuls was not
only a momentous event in our history but also a decisive factor in the development of Indian
miniature paintings. In 1555 AD, Emperor Humayun, returning from exile in Persia,
brought painters Mir Sayeed Ali and Khwaja Abdus to join his contemporary court
artists to produce works of art. Next his son, Emperor Akbar a great patron of art,
established an atelier where work of painting began. The art of miniature painting reached its
zenith during the time of Emperor Jehangir. A variety in themes and designs evolved
under the patronage of Jehangir. The small size which characterises the genre of these
paintings gave rise to the name Moghul miniatures.
The events in the lives of
the Emperors, hunting scenes, fighting scenes between animals, hills and trees are illustrated
in Moghul paintings. Figures representing the main themes usually occupy the central
portion in the picture and complementary objects find their place according to their
importance.
The Court scene of Emperor Babur,
portrait of Jehangir and Nurjehan, portrait of Shah Jehan, hunting scenes
and fighting between animals are depicted in Moghul paintings. They are displayed in
the Main hall of the National Art Gallery.
Indian Miniature
Paintings
