The Great Moghuls presents for the first time the opulent, internationalist culture of Moghul Hindustan in the age of its greatest emperors: Akbar (r. 1556-1605), Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) and Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658). Providing a compelling new narrative to describe the origins of Moghul art, it explores how a huge Iranian influence permeated the sophisticated craft traditions of the Indian subcontinent to create a distinctively Moghul style, further modified by interactions with Jesuit missionaries and European traders. All the arts of the Moghul court are included: from contemporary portraits to jewelled gold vessels and magnificent carpets. In chapters that conjure the unique dynamics of each reign, essays with historical sweep combine with texts focused on important objects to tell unexpected stories about a dynasty perhaps best known for commissioning the Taj Mahal.
