Babur and Humayun

Babur, who founded the Mughal empire in 1526, was a descendant of Timur. He brought Persian and Central Asian taste with him. His memoir, the Baburnama, began the Mughal habit of writing memoirs, and praises the great Persian painter Bihzad of Herat.

Humayun (from 1530) was driven out of India by Sher Shah. He took refuge at the court of the Safavid ruler Shah Tahmasp of Iran, and there saw its great painting workshops.

He set up court in Kabul (1545), and brought two Persian masters of portraiture, Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd us Samad, to start his own studio.

He founded the Nigaar Khana, a painting workshop, as part of his library, and began the great Hamza Nama.

The painting Princes of the House of Timur (1545-50), probably by Abd us Samad, is painted on cotton. It shows the dynasty gathered in a garden; the portraits of later emperors were painted over the originals. Its style is still mainly Persian.