DELHI SCHOOL OF MINIATURE PAINTING

THE FAMILY OF DESCENDANTS OF MANSOOR WAS FROM THE BEGINNING THE COURT PAINTERS OF JEHANGIR AND LATER OF THE SUCCESSORS OF JEHANGIR UPTO THE COURT OF AURANGZEB. UNFORTUNATELY EMPEROR AURANGZEB DUE TO CERTAIN RELIGIOUS REGIONS, DID NOT ENCOURAGE THIS EXPRESSION OF PAINTING. DUE TO LACK OF PATRONAGE FROM THE MUGHAL EMPEROR, THE DESCENDANTS OF MANSOOR HAD TO PRACTICE THEIR PROFESSION WITHOUT ANY PROPER PATRONAGE. DURING THIS PERIOD A LOT OF THE MINIATURE PAINTERS WENT TO WORK IN THE OTHER INDIAN STATES (MORE INFORMATION PROVIDED LATER).

THE DESCENDANTS OF MANSOOR HOWEVER, PREFERRED TO STAY IN DELHI. THEY DID NOT SHIFT LOYALTIES TO THE STATE PATRONS. HOWEVER, THEY DID RECEIVE AND ACCEPT ASSIGNMENTS FROM THE STATE RULERS.

GHULAM ALI KHAN, PAINTED FOR THE RULERS OF JHAJJAR, DUJANA AND ALWAR. AT JHAJJAR HE WAS GIVEN A PRESTIGIOUS POST OF MINISTER AND PAINTER. THE STATE OF DUJANA EMPLOYED HIM AS PRIME MINISTER AND PAINTER.

BUT HIS EMPLOYMENT AND STUDIES WITH EMPEROR AKBAR SHAH AND BAHADUR SHAH REMAINED INTACT. HE PAINTED SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR ALL THE FOUR PAINTERS.

AS THE DESCENDANTS OF MANSOOR ALWAYS PREFERRED TO STAY IN DELHI, THE TITLE OF -DELHI SCHOOL OF MINIATURE PAINTING' HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE ART PRACTICED BY THEM.