
The Brush of Insight
Artists and Agency at the Mughal Court
- 272 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Sheds light on the art and artists that gave material form to Mughal imperial vision Over the course of the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, Mughal court painters evolved from illustrators of manuscripts and albums to active mediators of imperial visionary experience, cultivating their patrons' earthly and spiritual authority. Featuring over 80 color illustrations, The Brush of Insight traces this shift, demonstrating how royal artists created a new visual economy that featured highly naturalistic royal portraits and depictions of the emperors' dreams. These images, in turn, shaped the perception of the Mughal emperors' preeminence in all domainsātemporal and spiritualāfrom the reign of Akbar to that of his son and successor, Jahangir. In analyzing a wide range of visual materials including manuscripts, albums, and coins, art historian Yael Rice documents how manuscript painters and paintings challenged the status of writing as the primary medium for the transmission of knowledge and experience. With compelling material and original arguments, The Brush of Insight probes how pictures and illustrated books became central to imperial modes of seeing and being in early modern Mughal South Asia.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Translation and Transliteration
- Introduction
- 1. Inner Visions: Fragments from the Unseen World
- 2. Workshop and Empire: The Invention of the Mughal Painter
- 3. Forms of Knowledge: The Emperorās Body and the Artistās Brush
- 4. World in a Book: Performance, Creation, and the Royal Album
- Epilogue: From Copy to Trace
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index