Features of Mughal Paintings:
- The Mughal pictures were small in size, and hence are known as ‘miniature paintings’.
- Though the Mughal art absorbed the Indian atmosphere, it neither represented the Indian emotions, nor the scenes from the daily life of the Indian.
- Hence, Mughal painting remained confined to the Mughal court and did not reach the people.
- The Mughal rulers brought Persian painters with them. At the same time they patronized Indian painters and the collaboration between these two schools of painters resulted in the synthesis.
- Apart from Persian books of fables, themes from Mahabharata, Ramayana were also selected.
- Indian scenes and landscapes came into vogue.
- Paintings were based upon close observation of nature with high aesthetic merit.
- Under Jahangir, the Mughal school paintings acquired greater charm, refinement and dignity.
- The emperor Jahangir had a great fascination for nature and took delight in the portraiture of birds, animals and flowers.
- Inspired by their overlord, the Mughal courtiers and the provincial officers started patronizing the artists trained in the Mughal technique of painting.
- The artists who were employed in the Imperial Government were known as the first grade artists. The works accomplished by these first grade artists is known as the Imperial Mughal Painting.
- Artists available to the provinces were of inferior merit, thus, the works accomplished in the provinces was known as ‘Popular Mughal’ or ‘Provincial Mughal’ painting, which possessed all the important characteristics of the Imperial Mughal painting with some inferior quality.