Indian Painting under the Mughals, A.D. 1550 to A.D. 1750 c15.32

c15.32

Roe records several interviews of a like nature, in which the emperor expressed his opinions on painting in the most naïve manner. He was clearly attracted by the European miniatures shown to him, some of which were very good examples, as one or two were from the brush of Isaac Oliver, the leading English miniaturist of the time. Jahangir was, however, quite satisfied with the artistic ability of his own painters, but—be it marked—only as expert copyists, their originality not being called into question. On his part Roe was much struck with the excellence of the Indian painting, although previous to being introduced to it by the emperor he had expressed himself in disappointed, and even patronizing terms, of the indigenous crafts. In one of his letters to a friend in England he writes, ‘here there are almost no Civill arts, but such as struggling Christians have lately taught’. When, however, he saw the productions of the court artists he completely changed his views, going so far as to say that ‘indeed in the arte of limnings his Paynters woorke miracles’, a spontaneous manifestation of unqualified praise, coming as it did from one who knew what a good miniature was.