The splendor of Mughal art always appeals to the aesthetic spirit of a art lover. The subtlety of the finesse and the dazzle of the aura associated with the artistic achievements calls for a keen interest in the subject.
Under the Mughals(1526-1858) India grew into a prolific centre of cultural cultivation ,literary pursuit and architectural marvel,comparable to the Iran under the Safavids .
A fundamental feature of Mughal art was manuscipt-illumination . A noteworthy example is Persian miniature painting. One of such painting shows a small figure of
Akbar, holding a flower and carrying a sword by his side.
The presence of the flower and the sword is very symbolic.Flower represents calmness and peace-loving attributes of Akbar,while the sword speaks for his royal origin, blue-blood and inherent bravery. These
Mughul paintings were usually invested with rich imagery and profound meanings . During Humayun`s rule, the intricate illustration of Amir Hamza, a fabulous narrative produced 1400 paintings on cloth were conducted by expert Persian painters.
Building style flourished under the Mughal emperors from the mid 16th to the 17th century. The Mughal period marked a striking revial of Islamic architecture in northern India, where persian, Indian and vaiuor provincial styles were fused to produce works of great refinement. White marble and red sandstone were favoured material. The mausoleum built to commemorate Humayun was probably the first great
Mughal architecture. The tomb is laid down in a garden with octagonal chambers linked to an exquisite archway and with kiosks,cupolas and pinnacles affixed to it. The eminent Persian architect, Mirza Miyak Ghiyas, gave shape to it. The use of double dome, arecessed archway inside a rectanglar fronton (arena), and parklike surroundings are typical of the Shah Jahan period, when Mughal design reached its zenith.
The Fatehpur Sikhri, built in 1571, is a wonderful manifestation of a beautiful blend of Christain, Hindu, Persian, Buddhist and Jain architectural influences, besides being an Islamic artistry. The building reflects Akbar`s design of making it a House of Worship, for the syncretic religion "Din-i -illahi" .
The Panch Mahal, the tallest tower in the premises of the Mughal Palace, and the Diwan-i-Khas are elegant architectural constructions. Akbar promoted the writings of literary figures like Abul Fazl composing informative texts like Ain-I-Akbari and Akbarnama. The "Lilabati", an enlightening work on mathematics by Faizi,casts light on the Mughals` indepth knowledge of the discipline. Even the "Memoirs"of Babur,a comprehensive literature of human history received its Persian version from the famous Abdur Rahim Khan is anh important literary development of Akbar`s regime.
Jahangir prioritized the potraiture of events from his own life ,scientific study of the flora and the fauna above manuscript-illumination. Mansur and Manohar were his favourite painters.The fascination for nature`s beauty is demonstrated in the creation of the gorgeous Shalimar Bagh, one of his most beautiful gardens, on the heavenly banks of the
Dal Lake in Kashmir.
Architectural excellences like the five-tiered tomb of his father,
Akbar, the white marble magic in
Ajmer and other opulent marble formations soothes the eye. The acme of perfection of Mughal architecture is the Taj Mahal(made from 1628-1658), set on the banks of the river
Yamuna. This romantic structure,all the more divine-looking in a moonlit night, is vocal of the emotional intensity in the perpetual perennial love of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz.
In 1638, Shah Jahan declared Delhi as the capital, and authenticated his decision with the foundation of the historic
Red Fort in Delhi. Another testimony of artistic grandeur is the ravishing peacock throne, which is itself beauty personified.
Artistic ventures started experiencing decline since the orthodox rule of
Aurangzeb. Nevertheless, the coming up of the Lahore Masjhid is a ray of hope in the depressing darkness.
However , the Mughals never perish into the void of oblivion .Their artistic richness continues to enchant admirers forever.
