Mughal, the Persian for 'Mongol'

 The golden age of Mughal art lasted from about 1580 to 1650 and spanned the reigns of three emperors: Akbar, his son Jahangir and grandson Shah Jahan. Artists in the imperial workshops created a radically new and rapidly evolving style reflected in all the arts of the court. 

Akbar's grandfather Babur had invaded the Delhi sultanate in 1526. He was descended from the Central Asian conqueror Amir Timur and Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol empire. The dynasty Babur established became known as 'Mughal, the Persian for 'Mongol'. These Muslim emperors created an atmosphere of religious tolerance to rule a diverse population with Hindus forming the vast majority. The imperial workshops employed Hindu and Muslim artists and craftsmen from across the newly conquered territories. Persian was the cultural language of the multilingual empire, which attracted skilled Iranian painters, calligraphers, architects and many others to the wealthy, cosmopolitan court. 

The exhibition at the V&A traces the creation and evolution of a distinctively Mughal art. From jewelled vessels to richly coloured velvets and the art of the book to architecture, it examines the many techniques and conventions that were constantly absorbed and reimagined.