Title: THE INDIAN PORTRAIT-IV Muraqqa - an Anthological Journey of the Mughal Empire

Description: In a culture where language and text are generally prized above all as a form of creative expression, the ties that bind literature and art remain strong. The manifestation of this bond can be clearly seen in albums from the Mughal period in India known as Muraqqa.

The Turkish word Muraqqa literally means “patchwork” or “collage”. The term was also employed for albums which consisted of joining together a few small samples of calligraphy known as kit’a (section). The word Muraqqa also means “patched” or “patched garment,” drawing a similarity between the garments worn by Islamic mystics (Sufis) as a sign of poverty and humility. The terminology was widely used in the Persian world for works in
which text is accompanied by pictures imbued with vivid life by highly-skilled miniaturists. These collections of miniature art, juxtaposed with the ornate text of stories and poems, were given away as diplomatic gifts or displayed in the atelier of kings and princes. The albums were also used as a visual and artistic means to convey imperial power and dynastic legitimacy.

Mughal Library