TARA DEVI HARAKH CHANDRA KANKARIA

JAIN COLLEGE

Name - Aman Raj Soren

Department – B.A. English Honours
Roll No. - 847
Subject – History
CU Roll - 222235-21-0031
CU Registration - 235-1113-0004-22
Topic – Mughal Art & Architecture
Paper code – GE3
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my

teachers Professor Debjani Som and Mrs. Krishna Golder
Majumdar, who gave me the golden opportunity to do this
wonderful assignment about the Mughal’s art and their
architecture. After completing my assignment regarding the
project, I came to learn a lot of things based on the topic and
many more things regarding the historical and cultural value
behind the history of our country that would make me look at
the value of art better in every aspect that can take place in
future.
 INTRODUCTION
Mughal architecture is the type of Indo-Islamic developed by
the Mughals in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries throughout the
ever-changing extent of their empire in the Indian Subcontinent.
It developed from the architectural styles of earlier Muslim
dynasties in India and from Iranian and Central Asian
architectural traditions, particularly Timurid architecture. It also
further incorporated and syncretized influences from wider
Indian architecture, especially during the reign of Akbar (r.
1556–1605). Mughal buildings have a uniform pattern of
structure and character, including large bulbous domes, slender
minarets at the corners, massive halls, large vaulted gateways,
and delicate ornamentation; examples of the style can be found
in modern-day Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
Mughal painting is a style of painting on paper confined to
miniatures either as book illustrations or as single works to be
kept in albums (muraqqa), from the territory of the Mughal
Empire in South Asia. It emerged from Persian miniature
painting (itself partly of Chinese origin) and developed in the
court of the Mughal Empire of the 16th to 18th centuries.
Battles, legendary stories, hunting scenes, wildlife, royal life,
mythology, as well as other subjects have all been frequently
depicted in paintings.
The Mughal emperors were Muslims, and they are credited with
consolidating Islam in South Asia and spreading Muslim (and
particularly Persian) arts and culture as well as the faith.
MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE
Characteristics
Mughal architecture is distinguished by bulbous domes, slender
minarets with cupolas at the four corners, enormous halls,
massive arched doorways, and exquisite ornamentation.
• Except for Aurangzeb, all the early Mughal rulers were master
architects. Indian architecture was heavily influenced by Persian
forms after the Mughals arrived. Mughal mausoleums, mosques,
forts, gardens, and towns were all magnificent. Both in structure
and character, Mughal structures follow a consistent pattern.
• Mughal architecture is a distinct Indo-Islamic architectural
style that emerged in northern and central India from the 16th to
the 18th centuries under the patronage of Mughal monarchs.
• It's a stunningly symmetrical and decorative mash-up of
Persian, Turkish, and Indian architecture.
• The Mughals were also known for developing gorgeous
gardens in the Persian Charbagh style, in which quadrilateral
gardens were divided into four smaller portions by walkways or
running water.
• The Mosque also features three onion-domed domes, which
are common in ancient Persian and Timurid architecture.
• The usage of Red Sandstone is another feature that can be
found throughout the Mughal Empire's architecture. The
distinctive reddish tint of this sandstone can be found in various
notable buildings across the empire, including the appropriately
titled Red Fort.

Buland Darwaza built by Akbar (1576)

Monuments
• Akbar- Agra Fort (commissioned in 1565)
• Shah Jahan- Taj Mahal (built between 1632 to 1653)
• Shah Jahan – Red Fort a.k.a Lal Quila
• Aurangzeb – Badshahi Mosque (built in 1673)
• Shah Jahan – Jama Masjid (built in 1656)
• Humayun’s Tomb
 MUGHAL ART
History & Origin
• The Delhi Sultanate reigned over most of the Indian
subcontinent prior to the emergence of the Mughal Empire.
• Miniature painting has been developing in many places
since the 10th century, and it flourished in numerous
regional courts throughout the Sultanate of Delhi.
• When Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, returned
from exile, he took two renowned Persian artists – Mir
Sayyid Ali and Abd Al-Samad – with him.
• These Persian artists created several notable paintings,
notably the ‘Khamsa of Nizami,’ based on Humayun’s
directions.
• These paintings strayed from traditional Persian art,
resulting in the birth of a new art form known as ‘Mughal
Painting.’ Subsequent Mughal kings expanded on the
Mughal paintings.
• The Tutinama (‘Tales of a Parrot’) Painting is the first
example of the Mughal style of painting.
Growth of Mughal Painting
Akbar
• Mughal painting has advanced largely in the reign of Akbar
The paintings are usually based on tales and epics like the
Mahabharata, Ramayana and Persian epics.
• It also started demonstrating an enriched naturalism, with
animal tales, landscape, portraits, etc.
• Akbar established a separate department for painting. He
started the concept of Karkhana.
• Indian painters were also present in karkhana. That’s why
there is Indian influence in the paintings.
• Famous painters of that time are Dashwant, Baswan and
Kesu. Most of the paintings during Akbar’s reign were
miniature paintings.

Jahangir
• Mughal Emperor Jahangir ruled from 1605 to 1627. He
stretched great support to several art forms, specifically
paintings.
• This era has seen enhancement in brushwork, along with
the usage of much lighter and subdued colors.
• The main themes of this era’s paintings were revolved
around the events from the life of Jahangir’s, along with
portraits, birds, flowers, animals, etc.
 • He also started portrait paintings. Decoration of margins
started from his time. He also has his own workshop for
painting.
• One of the famous painters of that time was Ustad
Mansoor. And famous paintings of that time are zebra,
Turkey, and Maulana-do-Pyaza.

Shah Jahan
• The elegance and modification of the Jahangir period were
seen at the time of Shah Jahan also.
• The themes were musical parties, lovers on terraces and
gardens, ascetics gathered around a fire, etc.
Decline
• The trend that was seen amid the season of Shah Jahan was
also found under the reign of Aurangzeb. Be that as it may,
the Aurangzeb did not pay too much attention to the
development of the Mughal paintings. The period of
Muhammad Shah did experience a short revitalization of
the Mughal paintings.
• With the onset of Shah Alam II, the art almost became non-
existent and alternative school of painting, recognized as
Rajput paintings, started developing.
 CONCLUSION
The Mughal Empire, which ruled India from the 16th to the 19th
century, had a significant impact on Indian art, architecture. The
Mughal period is known for its great flowering of art,
particularly in the realm of miniature painting. Mughal paintings
are characterized by their vivid colors, intricate detail, and
skillful use of perspective. They typically depict scenes from
court life, portraits of rulers and nobles, and illustrations from
literature and mythology. The Mughals were great patrons of
architecture, and their rule saw the construction of many
magnificent buildings and structures. In addition to these
specific artistic and architectural forms, the Mughal Empire also
had a broader impact on Indian culture and society. For
example, the Mughals brought with them a rich culinary
tradition that greatly influenced the cuisine of northern India.
They also contributed to the development of music and dance, as
well as to the establishment of a sophisticated courtly culture
that emphasized refinement, elegance, and artistic patronage.
Overall, the Mughal Empire left an enduring legacy on Indian
culture that continues to be felt to this day.
 BIBLOGRAPHY

• https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/mughal-paintings-
upsc-notes

• https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-
almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/mughal-art-and-
architecture

• https://prepp.in/news/e-492-painting-of-mughal-empire-
medieval-india-history-notes