The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s4.101.3

v4.c23.s4.101.3

The bare, almost frigid, appearance of Humāyūn's tomb, in its decorative aspect, may be traced to its designer's inability to replace successfully this colour scheme by a suitable one in stone and marble. That the effort was made is shown by the borders and panels of white marble inlay applied with such good results, but in outlining the archways with the same material the severity of the façade is emphasised. As to the disposal of the rooms in the interior, this appears to be an elaboration of the plan generally adopted in Muslim tombs in India, but the diagonal connecting passages may have been suggested by a similar arrangement in Persia, as seen in the tomb of Sāfī-ud-Dīn at Ārdabīl. The fact that the design of Humāyūn’s tomb did not immediately commend itself to the Mughuls and thus revolutionise the building art of India seems to indicate that it was in advance of its time. A small tomb, however, near by, enshrining the remains of Atga Khān, is of somewhat the same type in miniature, and was produced at this time probably by those employed on the royal mausoleum. But although the superior style of the latter could not fail to influence the later work of Akbar’s reign, it was not until more than sixty years had elapsed before the Mughul builders were sufficiently inspired to attempt another tomb of the same type.