History of Mughal Art Paintings an over View

Mughal Art Paintings

Indian paintings have a long history in traditional Indian art. In pre-historic times, it was tradition of rock paintings; several evidences have been found about even 30,000 years old rock paintings in places like Bhimbetka Rock Shelters. Paintings of Ajanta Caves are a few of survived ancient painting of Buddhist Literature.

Ancient Indian Art Paintings can be described as murals and miniatures, murals are painting executed by carving in some solid structures like walls, stones, statues, as discovered in Ajanta Caves. Miniatures are those painting that executed on some perishable material such as paper and cloth (sometimes leaves of palm tree), were commonly used in books and albums.

Ancient Murals, Eastern India Paintings generally confined to Buddhist Divinity in around 10th century, were miniatures painted on leaves of palm tree with wooden book cover, Western Indian Miniature Paintings Mostly Rajasthani manuscripts about Vaishnav and Jain sects around 10th century, Malwa, Deccan and Jaunpur schools of painting contemporary of mughal art paintings, Mughal Paintings (around 1500-1700 AD), Rajput Paintings (evolved and flourished, during 18th century), Mysore Paintings (classical South Indian Paintings), Tanjore painting (evolved during 9th century under the Chola Rulers), Kangra Paintings, Madhubani Paintings, Pattachitra (classical Odishi Paintings), Bengal school of painting are different ages of classical Indian art of painting.

Origin of Mughal Art Paintings

Mughal dynasty, the dynasty founded by Mughal emperor Babur in India has a great contribution of in history of Indian art paintings. Mugahal paintings are generally confined to miniatures influenced by Persian miniatures that were used in books and albums.

The origin of Mughal painting were originated in time of Mughal emporer, Humayun, during 1530-1540 when he returned back to India with two elite Persian artists, named Abd-us-samad and Mir-Sayyid Ali. Later, their Persian art of painting were influenced by local art of painting and, originated era of mughal art of paintings. ‘Tales of a Parrot’ and ‘Princess of the House of Timur’ are examples of earlier paintings.

Growth of mughal art paintings

Most of the emperor’s dynasty, including Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan were fond of art. During rule of these emperors, mughal art paintings were evolved and prospered. Hundreds of Indian painters used to paint under the guidance of those two Persian artists.

Akbar has a great interest in tales, so many paintings related to Ramayana, Mahabharata and some Persian epics, were painted. Jahangir extended a significant support to Mughal art of paintings and one most common example is Jahangir-Nama, biography of Jahangir. Shah Jahan was a great art lover but Mughal paintings didn’t manage to draw his much attention because he believed in rigid art like monuments, statues etc.