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...Jahangir, "Seizer of the World" |
| Jahangir had inherited from his great-grandfather, Babur, a love of gardens, and he filled his domain with the formal Persian gardens introduced into India by his ancestor. But Jahangir was most especially an ardent patron of miniature painting, a legacy from his grandfather, Humayun. According to art historian Shobita Punja, "During Humayun's reign, another Afghan nobleman, Sher Khan, took over Delhi and removed the Mughal emperor from the throne. Humayun was exiled from India and took refuge in the Persian court. This is a very essential part of the story because he lived in the Persian court for several years. After a time, he came back to India with an army loaned to him by the Persian emperor, and he re-conquered Delhi." During his exile, Humayun had toured Persia and had been deeply influenced by the Persian aesthetic. He particularly admired the work of the master artists of the court whose miniature paintings were used to illustrate books. When he returned to Delhi, he brought several of these artists with him, laying the foundation for the uniquely Mughal style of painting. Later, under Akbar's patronage, the painting workshops increased greatly in size as Indian artists entered the court to study the Persian style and contribute aspects of their own tradition.
But it was under Jahangir's direction that Mughal painting acquired its subtlety of content and style, a harmonious blend of the Persian use of intricate, realistic details and jewel-like colors, with the bold designs and vivid colors of the Hindu style. "These paintings rivaled what was being done in Europe at the time," says art historian Milo Beach. "European painters were interested in the Mughal paintings for their tremendous craftsmanship and artistic sensitivity. Rembrandt, for example, was so fascinated by them that he began to copy them. The Mughal emperors had their chroniclers write about the great skill of their painters, saying that these painters rivaled the works of European artists. So there was recognition on both sides that this was a great artistic moment." |
