- Mughal style evolved because of a happy synthesis of the indigenous Indian style of painting and the Safavid school of Persian painting. Later European influence can also be noticed.
- They majorly have secular themes.
- Humayun had spent more than twelve years in Persia as a refugee. He brought painters with him to India when he became the ruler of Delhi once again in 1555.
- Famous among them were Mir Sayid Ali & Abdus Samad who nurtured the tradition of painting manuscript. An example of it is Dastan-e-Amir Hamza, which has nearly 1200 paintings.
- The period also witnessed the flowering of portrait and miniature paintings.
- Seasons or baramasa paintings were similarly given artistic forms.
- Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan continued to give patronage to these artists and as a result, the Mughal school of painting continued to flourish.
- Famous painters of Akbar’s school include Dasvanath, Baswan, Manohar, Daulat, Mansur etc.
- Mughal school of painting reached its zenith under Jahangir, who was a famous painter himself. His court was adorned with famous painters like Ustad and Abul Hasan. Mansur was famous for his miniature painting.
- Under Jahangir an animal fable book called Ayar-i-danish was prepared. Another famous painting of his reign includes Jahangir holding a picture of Virgin Mary in his right hand. Important illustrated manuscripts under Shah Jahan include Gulistan and Bustan of Sadi.
- Tutinama appears to be the first work of the Mughal miniature painting. It is a translation of collection of stories named Sukasaptati.
- Hamzanama illustrations appeared on cloth.
