Overview for Mughal Inlay Art
The book studies 'INLAY' art as it developed in Mughal Architecture indigenously, from Humayun to Shah Jehan (c. 1535 to 1658 AD), landmark examples of which have been illustrated. Mughal inlay is architectural, and it is a misnomer to brand it: 'pietra-dura' which was Florentine picture-art used on wooden furniture. 'Orpheus Plaques' which led the colonial historians to trace origin of Mughal inlay to Florrence, were imported ready-made and there is no other example of Florentine pietra-dura. Inlay is the most distinctive characteristic of Mughal Architecture and study of its growth and development, to the elegance of the Taj dados, the chef d’oeu-vre of Indian art, is historically as enlightening, as interesting it is artistically.
R. Nath (Author)
Prof Ram Nath (born: 1933) was educated at St. John’s College, Agra. He passed his M.A. (History) in I Dn with first position. He did his Ph.D. and D.Litt. on Mughal monuments of Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Delhi from the Agra University. He taught at Agra College as Lecturer (1965-75) and University of Rajasthan, Jaipur as Reader and Professor (1979-93). He is dedicated to higher research in Medieval Indian Architecture which he has studied in the field. He has worked at more than 45 historical sites, mainly of Western India, during the last three decades. He was the recipient of several research fellowships, including the prestigious Homi Bhabha Fellowship. He has authored more than 45 books, 10 monographs, 150 research-papers and 250 popular articles. He is internationally recognized as an authority on Mughal Architecture. His five-volume monumental series: History of Mughal Architecture is a classic of which three volumes and a supplement have been published. The series is, truly, his magnum opus. He has directed the course of the study of Indo-Muslim Architecture into the scientific channel and made it a perfect discipline, instead of a compendium of romantic tales, fanciful anecdotes and hearsay legends. He has traced the evolutionary process of this style, point by point, and emancipated it from sectarian and racial misnomers. His is, essentially, a study of the Land, the People and the Culture.
Bagchee
