The Mughal School of Miniature Painting — NCERT Solutions

The Mughal court had many important artists. A brief list with one painting each is:

1. Mir Sayyid Ali — one of the Persian masters invited by Humayun. He helped establish the early Mughal atelier and the tradition of manuscript illustration.

2. Abd us Samad — associated with _Princes of the House of Timur_ (1545–50). This work is known for its large scale, complex arrangement and imperial portraits, and it reflects strong Persian influence.

3. Daswant — supervised the illustrated Persian version of the _Mahabharata_, called _Razm Nama_. The manuscript was completed in 1589 and contained 169 paintings.

4. Miskin — associated with _Noah’s Ark_ and _Krishna Lifts Mount Govardhan_. In _Noah’s Ark_, the subdued palette, convincing water and dramatic vertical perspective are notable.

5. Basawan — painted _Madonna and Child_ (1590). This work shows European religious subject matter adapted into Mughal idiom, with classical drapery and a humanist mother-child bond.

6. Aqa Riza — a well-known Iranian painter employed by Jahangir to achieve refined sophistication in painting.

7. Abul Hasan — painted _Jahangir’s Dream_ (1618–22). It shows political symbolism, with Jahangir dominating the composition and the Persian Shah appearing weak.

8. Manohar — co-attributed with Abul Hasan in _Jahangir in Darbar_ (1620). The painting shows perfect portraiture, court hierarchy and ceremonial splendour.

9. Bichitra — painted _Jahangir enthroned on an Hourglass_ (1625). The work uses symbolism, Persian calligraphy and European-inspired portraiture.

10. Ustad Mansur — painted _Falcon Perched on a Bird Rest_ (1615) and the zebra painting. He is noted for scientific accuracy and careful observation of animals.

11. Haji Madni — painted _The Marriage Procession of Dara Shikoh_. It depicts the pomp, music, gifts and fireworks of the royal procession.

These artists show the range of Mughal painting from early Persian foundations to later naturalism, symbolism and courtly splendour.

The Mughal school of painting developed through the blending of indigenous Indian, Persian, and later European visual elements. Three examples show this clearly:

1. _Spies Attack the City of Kaymar_ from _Hamza Nama_

• Persian elements: rich intricate patterns on the floor, columns and canopy; four-limbed animals; rocks; strong narrative tradition.
• Indian elements: trees, creepers, and the use of pure yellows, reds and browns.
• Style: the space is sharply divided for storytelling, showing the Persian taste for visual narration mixed with Indian natural forms.

2. _Madonna and Child_ by Basawan

• European elements: the subject is Christian; Virgin Mary is shown in a classical manner; the tenderness between mother and child follows Renaissance humanist ideas.
• Indian elements: the physiology of the child, the fan, and the jewellery are integrated into an Indian milieu.
• Style: this painting shows how a European theme was transformed inside the Mughal atelier.

3. _Jahangir’s Dream_ by Abul Hasan

• Persian elements: the political imagination and royal symbolism are rooted in Persian court painting.
• European elements: the radiant Sun and Moon held by winged angels and the symbolic arrangement reflect European motifs.
• Indian elements: Jahangir’s dominance over the composition and the attention to regal figures belong to Mughal court style.

Overall, Mughal painting was a melting pot: Indian natural detail, Persian compositional discipline, and European realism and symbolism were absorbed into one sophisticated style.