Indian Painting under the Mughals, A.D. 1550 to A.D. 1750 c15.23

c15.23

This propitious atmosphere having been created, it was not long before Roe was brought into communication with the emperor on the subject of painting. The latter was elated to find that Roe had a small collection of miniatures, by English and French artists, which he had brought with him on his voyage. Discussions on the merits of these and the skill of his own painters took place on several occasions, all of which have been most faithfully recorded by the ambassador. They were informally conducted, being interspersed ‘ with many passages of Iests, mirth and brages concerning the arts of his Countrye ’, for the emperor was always more than usually light-hearted whenever this topic was being discussed. It was customary for these audiences to take place in the late evening, for Roe relates that ‘ At night about 10 of the clock hee sent for me. I was abedd. The message was ; hee hard I had a picture which I had not showed him, desiering mee to Come to him and bring yt, and if I would not give it him, yet that hee might see yt and take Coppyes for his wives. I rose and carryed yt with mee.’ Then follows a very interesting description of Jahangir at his ease. ‘ When I came in I found him sitting crosse legged on a little throne, all cladd in diamondes, Pearles, and rubyes ; before him a table of gould, on yt about 50 Peeces of gould plate, sett all with stones, some very great and extreamly rich, some of lesse valew, but all of them almost covered with small stones ; his Nobilitye about him on their best equipage, whom he Commanded to drinck froliquely, severall wynes standing by in great flagons.’ Under these somewhat peculiar conditions the emperor and the ambassador exchanged views about miniature painting and the art in general. Jahangir was much impressed with the European ‘paintings in little’ produced by Roe, this being the first time that he had seen work of this kind. Nevertheless he was so sure of the skill of his own painters that he was convinced they could do work equally good. The result was that the ambassador was persuaded to lend some of these portraits to the emperor so that his artists might reproduce them in a similar manner. But the incident is best told in Roe’s own words, for in this way will be shown the attitude of Jahangir towards his artists and their art in the most natural light. The ambassador was sent for to attend a private conference of the kind previously described.