All four promoted and patronized art. That art was colorful and liberal, at least by Muslim standards. Persians, for example, were scandalized by the art calling it "too ripe and rounded' and "too bright and colorful." According to Dalrymple, that was because the art did not show the "restraint and geometric perfection of Safavid painting."
The Mughal love for art and its emphasis on liberalism shows a strong humanist streak in many Mughal emperors and especially, Akbar.
According to Dalrymple, Akbar "succeeded in uniting Hindus and Muslims in the service of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious state, promoting Hindus in his civil service, marrying Hindu princesses and entrusting his army to the Rajput ruler of Jaipur."
Akbar's love for art included religious Christian art like frescoes of Christain saints and painted images of Christ.
Although the art exhibits about which Darylmple writes closed long ago, his essays offer world history students an engaging overview of the Mughals.
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