The Golden Age of Mughal Art

This intensive, four-week course offers a deep dive into the Golden Age of Mughal painting and decorative arts under Emperor Jahangir, coinciding with a major international exhibition that will open in the spring of 2027 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Led by a Senior Researcher who helped put together this landmark exhibition, students will explore how Jahangir's personal passion for naturalism, scientific accuracy, and portraiture transformed the imperial atelier, shifting focus from large-scale historical epics to individual masterpieces suitable for royal albums (muraqqas). We will examine the meticulous botanical and zoological studies of court masters like Ustad Mansur, the psychological depth of allegorical portraits (such as Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings), and the subtle integration of European artistic influences like chiaroscuro and perspective. Utilizing the extraordinary works gathered from global collections for the exhibition, the course will uncover the political and personal symbolism—from celestial halos to global dominance—embedded within this era's exquisite craftsmanship, providing an unparalleled look at the intellectual and visual sophistication of one of history's great art connoisseurs.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 0

You'll walk away with

• Analyze the artistic techniques, naturalistic studies, and European influences in Mughal paintings and decorative arts under Jahangir
• Interpret the political, personal, and symbolic meanings embedded in key works, including portraits and botanical studies
• Evaluate the transformation of the imperial atelier and its impact on the creation of individual masterpieces for royal albums

Ideal for

• Art enthusiasts
• Aspiring and practicing arts professionals
• The curious and creative