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.
