Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c11.22

c11.22

Painting as a fine art became a diversion for the Mogul emperors and their nobles: the artists of the courts of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, both Hindu and Muhammadan, were greatly encouraged in drawing and painting portraits, in illustrating legend and history or contemporary life, both in fresco on the walls of palaces and villas, and in exquisite miniature paintings, usually intended for the illustration of manuscripts. But not even Akbar, who took a most liberal and enlightened view of art, permitted the representation of a human being, or of the Deity, in a mosque or building consecrated to religion; or attempted to revive a school of religious painting. The rule of the Sunna is scrupulously observed in the decoration of the great mosque at Fatehpur Sikri, where Akbar promulgated his new religion, “The Divine Faith.”