A Rustic Concert

A Rustic Concert

A Rustic Concert

by Govardhan
Jahangir Period
17th century AD

         The Europeans were already in India during Akbar's period. Akbar was attracted by the spirituality of Christianity, Jahangir,  by European art. He asked many of his artists to copy European paintings. The Mughal artists learned the elements of Western art: shading, three dimensionality, perspective, realism.

         Goverdhan's paintings are heavily influenced by Western art as can be seen in this painting. In the foreground we see a mendicant sitting and looking and listening to the musicians.  In the middle-ground and background we see an Inadian village with its thached huts, tents, and animals.

      These paintings not only gave the Mughal emperors a peek into their rural areas, but also give us a glimpse of a world of a bygone age.