The emperor Jahangir (1605-27) showed a strong patronage for paintings. During his reign, Mughal art became more refined with finer brushwork and lighter colours. He favoured paintings of events from his own life, and encouraged portraits and studies of birds, flowers and animals. "Jehangir-nama" - illustrated biography - contains among other pictorial idiosyncrasies paintings depicting the copulation of a saint and a tigress, the fight between spiders on the road which the emperor happened to see and the beheading of his rebellious son's supporters. The elegance and richness of the Jahangir period style continued during the reign of Shah Jahan (1628-58) but with an increasing tendency to become cold and rigid. Genre scenes - such as musical parties, lovers on a terrace, or ascetics gathered around a fire… Click here to read more