Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c11.68

c11.68

A good many of the paintings by these artists are still in existence, but, except as regards minuteness of detail and careful finish, they do not, as a rule, deserve the high praise bestowed upon them by Akbar's chronicler. However well-intentioned, the criticism and supervision in technical details of their imperial patron, as well as the system of weekly rewards, must have been very embarrassing to the painters, and hardly calculated to bring out the highest artistic talent. The chief merit of Akbar's system of control was his insistence on the study of Nature and the drawing of portraits, etc., direct from life.