Mughal painting

Style of painting, confined mainly to book illustrations and miniatures, that evolved in India during the Mughal dynasty (16th–19th centuries). In the initial phases the technique often involved a team of artists: one determined the composition, a second did the actual colouring, and a specialist in portraiture worked on individual faces. Probably the earliest example of Mughal painting is the illustrated folktale Tuti-nameh (“Tales of a Parrot”). Essentially a court art, it flourished under the emperors' patronage and declined when they lost interest. See also Mughal architecture.

Find more information on Mughal painting. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Mughal painting.