A Persian miniature

A Persian miniature 

from Herat
15th century AD.

         Humayun's exile to the Iran was a boon for Indian art. For upon his return to India, he brought two master painters from the Safavi court--Mir Sayyid'Ali and Abd us-Samad. These two masters brought the Safavi or the Persian tradition of miniature painting.  They are the beginning of the Mughal school of miniature painting.

        Despite the ban on painting in the Holy Koran, the Persians produced some of the finest paintings in the world. Their paintings were meant to illustrate stories. They were part of  a book as mere illustrations. Hence their small size. The paintings are flat, two-dimensional,  their composition is circular--as in this painting--the fight between the two warriors is within a circular clump of trees. The colors are subdued--at times pastel colours. ..as here in this painting.  Since religious scenes were strictly prohibited,  the Persian artist concentrated on the themes of love and war. Firdosi's Shahnama--the story of Rustum--being a favourite subject. The Persian themes, the Persian iconography is the foundation of Mughal art. But what is fascinating is its fusion with the indian art. The union of two great art traditions has produced some of the masterpieces of world art.