Mughal art is a form of Islamic art from the Mughal era of India, spanning from 1526-1858. The Mughals sought to replace earlier, more traditional Hindu and Jain styles with a style they considered to be more sophisticated. They used this new Mughal style in their architecture, pottery, textiles, and other forms of decorative arts.

Mughal Art was influenced by Persian models as well as Indian traditions such as the use of stone carvings on buildings or painted frescoes on walls which are often accompanied by intricate details in gold leaf. The illuminated manuscripts are known as “Pahari paintings”, for example, those illustrated by Basawan under Emperor Jahangir’s patronage were an important influence on the development of Mughal painting.

In Mughal art, perspective does not work as it should. In other words, Mughal paintings have a light source from above and the perspective looks down on objects instead of looking up at them from below. This creates a unique effect in Mughal paintings which separates them from European paintings.

Mughal art has also made use of the true fresco technique with the application of paint on fresh lime (calcium hydroxide) or fired brick powder in order to obtain a permanent bond between an upper and lower layer of plaster. In Mughal paintings, this gave rise to a distinctive style where paintings appear as if made by a single stroke of a brush.

Paintings in Mughal art typically carry the zenith as the highest point, and Mughals use perspective to convey deep distance by employing progressively smaller objects, diminishing perspective towards a manageable vanishing point. This device enhances the sense of depth and allows Mughal artists to paint elaborate architecture such as defining the characteristic Mughal style.

Mughal paintings were often executed on mica, a mineral that is extremely glittery and translucent when polished; mica was used as a foil to the highly polished and perfectly smooth miniature metal and stone surfaces. It is because mica paint shimmers like diamond dust particles against darkness, creating highlights of light and luster. In Mughal art, mica was also used as a toner to soften the harshness of contours and fine details in the intricate paintings. Moreover, mica is said to have been favored by Mughal artists because it provides a pearly sheen similar to that produced by silverpoint drawing on paper with white Chinese ink.

Mughal artists were known to be very skilled in mica painting. They illustrated various forms of jewelry, which mica paints were used to create the glittery appearance of gold and other precious metals.

Jali is a Mughal art technique where intricate patterns are made by cutting open stone or glazed tiles with precise shapes and borders. The technique is Mughal art for stone or glazed tiles are cut into thin mortar-sized strips, then fitted together to create geometric patterns of squares, triangles, and circles also known as pietra dura masonry.

Jali Mughal art designs were often very complex and decorative, combining numerous intricate patterns and shapes that were Mughal art in a way that gives mica paintings an appearance of fine lace. Jali Mughal art was Mughal art used on muntin partitions, screens, and largely only for ornamental purposes only.

There are many Mughal art styles, some of which developed during different regions and periods of Mughal history. The Mughal art style of Mughal paintings is popularly known as the Mughal School, with Mughal paintings being popularized within Mughal Empire. Another important Mughal art style is the Pahari painting which is a form of Mughal art in the hilly regions of India and it originated from a mixture of Mughal and Rajput styles.

Mughal art paintings

Mughal paintings are popular for their distinctive style, which is characterized by rich colors and Pahari painting textures. Mughal paintings often carry the zenith as the highest point, and Mughals use perspective to convey deep distance by employing progressively smaller objects. Mughal artists also use mica paint to create a lustrous appearance in their paintings.

mica painting

A Mughal art technique is mica painting. Mughal artists were known to be skilled in mica painting. They illustrated various forms of jewelry which mica paints were used to create the glittery appearance of gold and other precious metals. Mughal paintings are also famous for their distinctive style, which is characterized by rich colors and mica textures.

Mughal paintings often carry the zenith as the highest point, and Mughals use perspective to convey deep distance by employing progressively smaller objects into a manageable vanishing point. The device enhances the sense of depth and allows mugs artists to paint elaborate architecture that defines the Mughal style. Mughals also make use of mica paint in order to give their paintings a lustrous appearance.