Indian Painting under the Mughals, A.D. 1550 to A.D. 1750 c21.3.3

c21.3.3

With the extension of these missions appear the first known examples of Western art in India. In 1570 one of the priests at Goa was Brother Aranha of Lisbon, a skilled artist and versatile craftsman, who designed and built many of the original Christian churches in the locality, decorating them with religious pictures painted by his own hands. Of the Jesuits’ activities in the southern part of the peninsula, and particularly of some of the occidental ‘ novelties ’ that they had brought with them, Akbar seems to have obtained certain vague information, which speedily grew into a desire for more definite knowledge. In 1578, therefore, he specially deputed an agent of his court, of the name of Haji Habibullah, to proceed to Goa for the express purpose of making investigations. The emissary’s instructions were quite definite: he was ordered to find out personally all he could about the arts and industries that were being practised there, and if possible to bring back examples; further, he was supplied with ample funds for the purchase of any articles of interest, and if for any reason these were unobtainable he was accompanied by a small staff of expert craftsmen who were to make copies of them, so as not to return empty-handed. When the company arrived back at the Mughal court after their long expedition, the emperor was much gratified with the manner in which the Haji had carried out his commission.