Indian Painting under the Mughals, A.D. 1550 to A.D. 1750 c22.52

c22.52

Of the three main *qalams* of the Mughals the Delhi *qalam* is the one in which the majority of pictures were painted, and it represents the imperial development of the art, the other styles in comparison being really provincial. It does not follow, however, that all the pictures in the Delhi *qalam* were painted at the Mughal capital, but the name indicates that they were painted in the manner approved by the court, whether it was situated at Delhi, Agra, Ajmere, Mandu, Fathpur Sikri, or Lahore. Although Delhi has been regarded as the capital of Hindustan, as a residence this city did not attract the Mughal emperors until Shah Jahan built and occupied the palace fort there in 1648. Akbar preferred Agra and its environs, while Jahangir, whose restless spirit allowed him no continuous abode, usually had his head-quarters at Lahore. But the official artists, who worked under the aegis of the throne, set the fashion in the style of painting, and they formed part of the royal entourage, wherever this was maintained.