Mughal miniature :
The Visual Language of Contemporary Art
Now, two important changes occurred in the history of Persia. On the
political level the Safavid dynasty replaced the Turkomans, and took over
Herat from Uzbeks. As a result under the guidance of Shah Ismail Safavid,
a great patron of art, the two strands that is the Tabriz idiom and the Herat
mode of Bihzad amalgamated together. The paintings from Shah-Nama
highly reflect this fact, closeness to nature was demonstrated with higher
degree of lyrical quality and animals and birds appear with a romantic
appeal. And it is this blend of this style carried by Mir Sayyid Ali, a disciple
of Bihzad, who accompanied Humayun from Tabriz to India.
The miniature painting which its roots in Persia is now considered as
a traditional school of Painting in Indian art, with the intervention of the
Mughals. How was the journey ?What was the reaction of the people towards
this new form of Art. Let’s make a study of Mughal miniature painting under
the patronage of six great Mughals of India.
The word Mughal means Mongol and refers to the Turk Mongol, primarily
origin of King Babur. He had a lineage of both Chingiz Khan and Timur and
as a result he was extremely sensitive towards the finer aspect of life and
maintained strong links with Persia. Babur laid the foundation of Mughal
dynasty in 1526.(Mittal, 2011). Due to the continuity of administrative
system and stability, there was a tremendous development in the field of art,
architecture, classical dance, Music, textiles, jewellery, trade and commerce.