Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c11.88

c11.88

It was, no doubt, the practice of direct study from nature, re-introduced by Akbar, which brought about the very remarkable development in the power of artistic expression which is evident in the best drawings and paintings of Jahangir's time. But "drawing from the life" is never taken in the same sense as it is in modern European academies. It did not mean that the student sat down by the side of his model and commenced to reproduce as closely as possible its reflection on the retina of his own eyes; but that, after a most careful observation of the model, he went away and recorded his mental impression of it, returning occasionally, if necessary, to refresh his memory. In this way the artist's powers of memory were developed to an extraordinary degree.