The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s4.148.2

v4.c23.s4.148.2

To such an extent was this colour scheme allowed to dominate the entire fabric that one of the fundamental principles of good building has been sacrificed, inasmuch as the designers subordinated intentionally all constructional emphasis in order to give precedence to the applied art. Eliminate this ornamentation and the building becomes a bald arrangement of flat surfaces without shadow or any form of relief, mouldings and string-courses are at a discount, the whole structure resolving itself into a mere background on which the tile-setter was encouraged to squander his art unrestrained. That such a procedure produced buildings having any claim to architectural merit is mainly due to the quality of this tile decoration, which is of the highest order, as the brilliantly designed arabesques in variegated hues lit by the eastern sun produce a vitality of effect disarming all criticism. In Lahore and its neighbourhood a large number of buildings were erected in this style during the reign of Shāh Jahān, but owing to the impermanent nature of their construction many of them are in ruins or have almost entirely disappeared. The immense mounds of spoil from the brick kilns of this period testify to the importance this industry assumed, so much so that one Buddhu whose tomb is near Lahore was appointed chief purveyor of bricks to the royal establishment.