Mughal painting is an art form that originated in Southeast Asia. It is an art form that is closely associated with the Mughal Empire that stretched across the north Indian region. It originated from Persian miniature painting. These small-format works are closely connected with the Persian world of legends and fairy tales. Miniature paintings accompany literature and support the telling of a story. They are illustrations that are extraordinarily artistically crafted and tell the stories more intensely than European book illustrations do. Clear geometric shapes and intense colors bring the debauched art of storytelling to paper. The paper and inspiration for Persian miniature painting came to Iran from China. Therefore, the basic outlines for the illustrations probably go back to Chinese painting. At the court of the Mughal Empire, Persian miniature painting developed into its own art form between the 16th and 18th centuries. The classical mode of representation as book illustration has been preserved, but was extended by the independence of the pictures. The Mughal emperors were interested in realistic illustrations in addition to depicting subjects with literary references. Portraits, animals and plants were among the most popular subjects. And although the classical works of Indian literature continued to be elaborately embellished, artists increasingly painted scenes of life at court and in the imperial environment. An elevated vantage point was chosen for perspective, a convention that presumably had a cultural origin.
One of the favorite pastimes of the Mughal emperors was writing diaries and memoirs. Miniature paintings complemented the texts of imperial life. Collective works with personal and individual content were created, the design of which is unique. In addition to the diaries, albums with portraits were created. Portraits were allowed of the magnate's personal environment. The design was subject to strict rules. The portrayal was done in strict profile, the upper part of the body was turned towards the viewer. The role of women in portraiture is controversial. It is clear that men were portrayed much more frequently than women. Concubines and servants were allowed to accompany the portrait, but not be the defining subject. Scholars suggest that there were female depictions of close relatives of the emperor, but that these rarely survived.
Mughal painting is a combination of art movements of foreign countries and Indian art styles. The tradition of framing the paintings with borders was adopted from Persian miniature painting. Richly ornamented bands supplemented with characters surround the central motif, but are replaced in many reproductions by real framing. The style of painting developed by the Mughals spread rapidly. Other Indian courts adopted the art form and supplemented it with Hindu religious motifs. An almost iconic expression developed in portraiture. In particular, the portrayal of rulers became more exalted, reflecting the emperors' desire to have a divine status on earth. From the original Mughal painting developed regionally influenced differences that are fondly referred to as the post-Mughal style.
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.jpg "Birds. Miniature gouache from the Mughal school. 1590-1600. Paris, Guimet Museum, National Museum of Asian Arts by Mughal School")
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 crossing the River Ganges in 1567 from the Akbarnama made by Abul Fazi 1590-98 (opaque wc gold on paper) - (MeisterDrucke-51642).jpg "Emperor Akbar Crossing the River Ganges in 1567, from the")
 crossing the River Ganges in 1567 from the Akbarnama made by Abul Fazi 1590-98 (opaque wc gold on paper) - (MeisterDrucke-51642).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-417482).jpg "A lady on a swing, Kangra, Punjab hills by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Adham Khan Paying Homage to Akbar at Sarangpur, Central India, in 1560 or 1561, from the Akbarnama by Mughal School")
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 1700-25 (opaque wc on paper) - (MeisterDrucke-87806).jpg "Portrait of Nadir Shah Afshar of Persia by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A Chukar Partridge, Detached Manuscript Folio with Painting, Late 16th Century by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-96385).jpg "Lady holding a blossom, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Calligraphic panel, Mughal India, c.1610 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Falcon Perched on a Leafy Stump, c.1650 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Lady seated in a Pavilion with attendants, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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 (1569-1627) - (MeisterDrucke-103138).jpg "The Court Welcoming Emperor Jahangir by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Rama Asks Lakshmana to Abandon Sita in a Forest, from the Ramayana, 1600 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Red Fort at Agra During Construction, from the")
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.jpg "Thirteen Dervishes, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-62418).jpg "A Mahout riding an Elephant, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-58183).jpg "Kjujista, the Merchant")
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.jpg "Four Muslim holy men seated in meditation outside a hut, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Battle Scene: The Pandavas Led by Krishna vs. the Kauravas Led by Bhishma, Late 16th Century by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Iranian princely figure holding a cup and flask, c.1640, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-78647).jpg "Akbar Receiving the Drums and Standards Captured from Abdullah Uzbeg, Governor of Malwa, in 1564 by Mughal School")
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_inspecting_the_building_work_at_Fatepur_Sikri_city_co_-_(MeisterDrucke-417480).jpg "Emperor Akbar inspecting the building work at Fatepur Sikri, city completed 1584, from the Akbarnama by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-660505).jpg "Bhairavi Ragini by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Portrait of Dilir Khan, c.1760, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A young nobleman of the Mughal court, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Lady holding a flower, standing by a lily pond, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Mughal Art: Horse-Head Dagger in Damascus Steel by Mughal School")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-417461).jpg "The Qazi, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Right-Hand Frontispiece from the Late Shahjahan Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Album Page: Gulbadan Begum Smoking on a Terrace, Delhi, c.1800 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Portraits of two landowners, Rai Bharo and Jassa Jam of Gujarat by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Idealized Portrait of the Mughal Empress Nur Jahan by Mughal School")
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_Babur_(1483-1530_r1526-30)_and_Humayan_(1508-56_r1530-56)_enth_-_(MeisterDrucke-87125).jpg "Timur, Babur, and Humayan Enthroned Together, from the Large Clive Album, from a 17th Century Original by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Adoration of the Magi by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-68302).jpg "An Officer, Standing, with Sword and Shield, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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 with his consort and attendants in a garden from the Small Clive Album (opaque wc on paper) - (MeisterDrucke-105286).jpg "Emperor Jahangir with His Consort and Attendants in a Garden, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
 with his consort and attendants in a garden from the Small Clive Album (opaque wc on paper) - (MeisterDrucke-105286).jpg)
_in_a_Mughal_mount_-_(MeisterDrucke-417465).jpg "Calligraphy by the Iranian master Ali al-Mashhadi in a Mughal mount by Mughal School")
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 c1615 (ink on paper) - (MeisterDrucke-673943).jpg "Sultan Khurram (Shah Jahan) by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Sultan Bahadur and Rumi Khan jumping into the sea when surrounded by Portuguese boats, from the Akbarnama by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Khujista Talking to the Parrot by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Qilich Khan by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Couple with Female Attendants and Musicians, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Calligraphy from the Late Shahjahan Album by Mughal School")
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 1589-90 - (MeisterDrucke-54288).jpg "Rhinoceros, illustration from the")
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.jpg "Nawab Ja")
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_visits_the_shrine_of_Muin_ad_Din_Chisti_at_Amjir_in_1_-_(MeisterDrucke-1105498).jpg "Emperor Akbar visits the shrine of Mu")
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.jpg "Emperor Babur, detached album folio, late 19th century by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Noble Lady, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "View of the mausoleum of Asif Khan located in Shahdara Bagh by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Battle Scene, c.1610-20 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Al-Mu")
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.jpg "Hunting Scene by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Discussion between learned men and princes by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-108589).jpg "Battle between the forces of Iran and Turan, illustration to the Shahnama, Large Clive Album, mid-17th century by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-71958).jpg "Standing Figure of a Nobleman, Holding a Book, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Alamshah converses with Qubad, illustration from the Hamza Nama by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Operations at the Siege of Chitor, from the")
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.jpg "A hero slays a giant before a crowd of onlookers in a courtyard, illustration from the Hamza Nama by Mughal School")
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 c1725 (opaque wc on paper) - (MeisterDrucke-103830).jpg "The Young Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah at a Nautch Performance by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Emperor Akbar Controlling an Elephant During a Hunt by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Lady Holding a Lotus Petal, from the Small Clive Album, c.1750-60 by Mughal School")
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_at_the_battle_of_Samal_in_1572_from_the_Akbarnama_mad_-_(MeisterDrucke-417473).jpg "Emperor Akbar at the battle of Samal in 1572, from the Akbarnama made by Abul Fazi by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Nawab Amir al-Umara Zabita Khan, Detached Album Folio with Painting, c.1770 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Ten birds. Miniature painting at the gouache of the Mughal school by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Pradyumna Kills Samvara, c.1585-90 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A prince and companions take refreshments and listen to music, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A Himalayan Cheer Pheasant against a Sandy Landscape by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A Seated Courtier, Detached Album Folio, Mid-17th Century by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-77426).jpg "A Couple in a Garden Listening to Music with Female Attendants, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-86025).jpg "Emperor Akbar")
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.jpg "Ladies Feasting, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Five Holy Men, Detached Manuscript Folio, c.1670 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Group of Whirling Dervishes, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A Mughal Noble on Horseback, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Shiva Killing the Demon Andhaka, c.1585-90 by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-112279).jpg "Ladies Listening to Music in a Garden, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1126763).jpg "Two Muslim holy men, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A Trans-Oxonian Nobleman Seated Beneath a Tree, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Dara Shikoh with Mian Mir and Mulla Shah by Mughal School")
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.jpg "The Elderly Shahjahan, from the late Shahjahan Album, detached manuscript folio, 1640-1660 by Mughal School")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1174679).jpg "Majnun in the Wilderness by Mughal School")
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.jpg "The sage Shuku Deva addressing King Parikshit & a group of Sadhus by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Portrait of a European Sailor, c.1590 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Battle Scene by Mughal School")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-69419).jpg "The Brothers Ali Auli Khan Zaman and Gadhadur Khan at Karah by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A lady smoking a hookah and holding a perfume flask by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A prince in discussion with a religious man holding a book, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-900730).jpg "Mughal Coin by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Lady holding a wine flask and cup, from the Small Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Prince Dara Shikuh holding a tray of jewels, from the Minto Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Rustam Slays the White Div by Mughal School")
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_Calligraphy_Framed_by_an_Ornamental_Border_of_-_(MeisterDrucke-900187).jpg "Harem Night-Bathing Scene (recto): Calligraphy Framed by an Ornamental Border of Flowers and Birds (verso), c.1650 by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Ladies in a Garden by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Three men lion hunting, from the Large Clive Album by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Rama Trying to Justify to Sita his Repudiation of Her by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Krishna Defeats Trinavarta, the Demon Whirlwind, from a Bhagavata Purana (Book of the Lord) by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Babur and Humayun with Courtiers by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Princess by Mughal School")
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.jpg "The Death of Ananias by Mughal School")
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.jpg "Rustem Killing Arjang Div by Mughal School")
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.jpg "A Mullah and a Musician by Mughal School")
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