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How did Mughal artists combine Indian and Persian artistic traditions?

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Watch and hear a person playing the mridangam drum of the Carnatic music tradition — South Asian arts The *mridangam*, the principal drum of the Carnatic music tradition.

Mughal artists synthesized Indian and Persian traditions by integrating the technical foundations of Safavid-influenced Persian art with indigenous Indian elements, mythology, and environment.123

The foundation of this fusion began when Emperor Humayun returned from exile in the Safavid court of Iran, bringing Persian artists who introduced stylized landscapes, three-quarter figures, and specific color palettes to the Indian subcontinent. Under Emperor Akbar, this Persianate base was expanded through the incorporation of local Indian painting styles, such as those from the Rajput tradition, and a broader color scheme.123

This synthesis was further realized through:
* Thematic Integration: Artists illustrated both Persian literature and Indian epics, such as the Mahabharata (Razmnama) and the Harivamsa, effectively merging Safavid training with Indian mythological subjects.23
* Stylistic Evolution: While retaining the upright format and flat aerial perspective characteristic of Persian painting, Mughal works adopted greater expressive power and naturalism.43
* Technical Adaptation: Artists adapted materials and techniques, such as mixing yellow and blue pigments to create green—a departure from the copper-based verdigris often used in Safavid traditions—to better preserve the paper.5