Sketch Book for the Artist

Jeweled Gardens

AMONG DRAWINGS FROM the Middle East we find exquisite

stylization of form and upright formality in pictorial space.

The first Mughal Emperor Babur's Garden of Fidelity (Bagh-e

Vaja), which he personally created near Kabul, Afghanistan,

in the early 16th century, is remembered in the pages of his

journal. Below, in miniature, Babur directs his gardeners in

the design and planting of this quartered chahar bagh. Envoys

chatter outside the gate, anticipating their view. Every fiber of

paper is brimming with the beauty and celebration of nature,

urgent attentive human activity, and miraculous growth.

Opposite is the Rose of Mohammed; the sumptuous petals

permeated with prayer and wisdom. Drawing, painting, and

calligraphy are brought together to hold the sacred names of

prophets and the 99 beautiful names of God. By Muslim

tradition, roses took their form in a bead of perspiration on the

brow of Mohammed as he passed through his heavenly journey.

BISHNDAS AND NANHA

Little is known of these Mughal painters who were

related as uncle and nephew and commissioned

to illustrate the pages of Babur's journal. Bishndas

was probably responsible for the overall design, and

Nanha, a notable portrait painter drew the faces.

Bright pigment These pages were illuminated by Mughal

artists in the late 16th century. They used a fine brush to

lay pigment over a line drawing. The white of the page shines

through the brilliant color. Upright shallow perspectives,

fluctuations in scale, uniform focus, and attention to detail

are all shared with medieval European manuscript drawings.

Babur Supervising Out

of the Garden of Fidelity

c. 1590

85 / 8 x 55 / 8 in (219 x144 mm)

BISHNDAS AND NANHA

PLANTS

AND

GARDENS