Art in the Ottoman and Mughal Empires

Ottoman Empire Art

Ottoman art was influenced by Seljuk, Byzantine, Persian, and Mamluk cultures. Mosques had vast inner spaces surmounted by massive domes, corner minarets, columns, and a constrast between light and shadow. Kulliyes, a complex of buildings centered around a mosque, was another characteristic. Ottoman architecture remained uniform over time. The Hagia Sophia church and the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne are some of the most important models for Ottoman mosques. Miniature paintings, influenced by Persian, Byzantine, and Chinese art, were often in shades of bright red, green, and blue. A key feature in Ottoman art was the use of abstract topics as opposed to human figures. Carpet weaving, jewelry making, paper marbling, Iznik ware ceramics were also created in the Ottoman Empire. Carpets, often made of silk and cotton, were used on both floors and wall/ door hangings. Hereke silk carpets were the most valued of all Ottoman carpets. 

Mughal Empire Art

Mughal art styles borrowed from the Renaissance and Persian/ Indian sources. Massive and lavish monuments and palaces were built by Muslim emperors such as Humayun's Tomb. During the golden age of Mughal art, many splendid monuments such as the Pearl Mosque, the Red Fort, and Taj Mahal were erected. The famous Taj Mahal, known for its symmetry, had large, white marble stands with an arch shaped doorway topped by a large dome and finial. Mughal paintings borrowed individual and naturalistic motifs of the Renaissance and Mannerist styles, but also Indian and Persian traditions. Miniature paintings that depicted scenes of court life, wildlife, hunting, and battles were common in classic works of Persian and Indian texts.