Emperor Jahangir and The Transformation of Mughal Empire – Part 7

The growth of art was notable during the reign of Emperor Humayun. The style of Emperor Akbar was greatly influenced by the Persians, inspired by Khwaja Abdus Samad and Mir Sayyid Ali. He had artists from all over India as well as from foreign lands, while the Hindu painters were dominant under him.

Painting was revolutionized during the time of Emperor Jahangir. Artists focused on realistic, standalone scenes and portraits rather than only manuscript miniatures. His artistic interest, sensitivity and political stability helped Mughal painting move beyond the Indo-Persian style and develop its own identity.

A handwritten note by Emperor Jahangir in the Garrett Collection’s Zafarnama (1467) reads: “Allah is Great! The book ‘Zafarnama’, written by Maulana Shir Ali, contains eight pairs (actually six pairs, or twelve) of paintings, drawn in the early period by the unrivalled master Behzad. From the library of my late father, it was given to my library in the first year of my accession (1014 Hijri/1605 AD). Signed, Nur-ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Shah Akbar.”