The greatest art of Hindustan under the Mughal dynasty was produced by Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan between 1570 and 1650. Court ceremonies were held in palaces filled with jewels, jade, gold and sumptuous fabrics from the royal treasuries. Artists and craftsmen came from all over the Indian subcontinent, from Iran and from Europe. New styles quickly developed in architecture as in the art of the book, in textiles and in Jewellery.
Susan Stronge’s beautifully illustrated new book brings to life the splendour of the court, famous today for legendary monuments like the Taj Mahal. Made for Mughal Emperors gives a fascinating insight into the lives of the rulers and their families, seen through their art. It shows the versatility of the emperor’s artists and craftsmen – painters were sometimes calligraphers or designers of objects, and one royal goldsmith was an acclaimed poet. By shah Jahan’s reign, harmony of design linked everything they made. The artistic world they created was filled with blossoming plants that made his palace an earthly paradise.
Contents:
Introduction. I. The city and the royal encampment; 1. The construction of city palaces; 2. The life of the court; 3. Nowruz; 4. The birthday weighing ceremony; 5. Royal weddings; 6. The concealed world of the Zanana; 7. Court pastimes; 8. The royal encampment; 9. The Royal hunt. II. The Mughal ‘House of Books’; 1. The cultured curt; 2. Akbar’s Atelier; 3. The ‘House of Studies’; 4. The court at Lahore; 5. The versatile artists; 6. The Mughals and Europe; 7. Prince Salim’s atelier; 8. Painting for Jahangir; 9. The Jahangir Nama; 10. The ‘Allegorical’ or ‘Dream’ paintings; 1 The king of the world. III. The royal workshops and the skills of Hindustan; 1. The treasury of precious stones; 2. The treasury of jeweled artifacts; 3. The traditions of Hindustan; 4. Textiles and carpets; 5. Mughal Jade; 6. Enamelling; 7. The Goldsmiths’ Atelier and the Iranian Master; Notes; Bibliography; Index; Photo credits.
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