Synopses & Reviews
A detailed history of the long line of Mughal rulers from 1206 to1925, illustrated with exquisite paintings, manuscripts, and architecture.In the West "mogul" refers to a person of great power and influence. The word derives from the Persian "Mughal" or Mongol, the people who, initially under Genghis Khan, had an enormous impact as they set out to conquer the world.
This book describes the rulers from the thirteenth to the twentieth centuries whose reigns and lands were affected by Mongol/Mughal power and who all shared the Muslim high civilization that flourished from Iran and Central Asia through Afghanistan to north and central India. Among the prominent leaders were Timur, or Tamerlane, who lived a life of remorseless conquest; Shah Abbas the Great, who brought the achievement of early modern Iran to its peak at Isfahan; Akbar the Great, who fostered an idea of inclusive government for India; and Shah Jahan, who gave India its finest monument, the Taj Mahal.
In lively biographical portraits, illuminated by vivid quotations from contemporary chroniclers, these great men come back to life. We see them as administrators trying to meet the challenge of building strong central governments, as military leaders engaged in bloody and fratricidal struggles for succession, and as enlightened patrons of the arts and sciences. Women also play a prominent part in events, from court politics and artistic patronage to occasionally ruling. 260 illustrations, 140 in color.
Synopsis
Published to accompany a major British Library exhibition,
Mughal India showcases the British Libraryandrsquo;s extensive collection of illustrated manuscripts and paintings commissioned by Mughal emperors and other officials. Depicting the splendor and vibrant color of Mughal life, the exquisitely decorated works span four centuries, from the foundation of the Mughal dynasty by Babur in the sixteenth century, through the heights of the empire and the andldquo;Greatandrdquo; Mughal emperors of the seventeenth century, into the decline and eventual collapse in the nineteenth century.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;The lavish artworks cover a variety of subject matter, from scenes of courtly life to illustrations of works of literature. The development of a Mughal style of art can be traced through the illustrations and paintings, as can the influence of European styles. Many of these works have never before been published, and combined here with the engaging narrative of two experts who place each image within its historical and art historical context, they serve to provide us with a beautiful and illuminating view of the art and culture of Mughal India.
About the Author
J. P. Losty was head of visual arts at the British Library for thirty-four years until his retirement in 2005. He has published extensively on illustrated Indian manuscripts and painting in India from the eleventh to the nineteenth centuries.
Malini Roy is curator of visual arts at the British Library.
Table of Contents
Map
Genealogy
Glossary
Note to Readers
Introduction
1. The Emperor Akbarand#8217;s Patronage
2. Mughal Patronage in the Seventeenth Century
3. The Later Portrait Tradition and Diffusion to the Provinces
4. Mughal Painting in the Nineteenth Century
Notes
Bibliography
Index