Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Under the emperor Akbar, Mughal artists developed a highly expressive style of manuscript painting, which combined Persian refinement and technique with Indian vitality and feeling for nature.

European influences, deriving from the study of imported prints, also began to appear. Portraiture of the rulers and their courtiers became an increasingly important art, especially under Jahangir (1605-1627) and Shah Jahan (1627-1658).

Many local schools of painting also flourished at the courts of the Rajput Maharajas or the Deccani sultans. The Rajput royal patrons had traditionally favoured vivid and robust styles of manuscript illustration.

But by 1700, Mughal-inspired portraiture, adapted to the bolder Rajput taste, had become well established. Scenes of court life or hunting became popular themes, sometimes treated in large-scale compositions that are full of lively detail.

The Pandava brothers do battle with the King of Anga (EA1978.2594)   Yogini in the forest (EA2005.88)   Portrait of a lady (EA1999.101)   The Sufi saints Mian Mir and Mulla Shah (EA1990.1287)   A lady playing a vina (EA1990.1289)

A lady at a linga shrine, illustrating the musical mode Bhairavi Ragini (EA1999.22)   A lady plucking leaves, illustrating the musical mode Gunakali Ragini (EA2001.33)   Maharao Ratan Singh with courtiers (EA1986.58)   Prince Amar Singh with his infant son (EA2004.13)   Maharana Amar Singh of Mewar at the Eklingji temple (EA1989.40)

Maharana Sangram Singh II visiting a yogi (EA1990.1281)   Maharaja Sirdar Singh of Kishangarh (EA1999.6)   Nawab Shuja' ud-Daula of Awadh (EA1993.11)   Vishnu as the fish avatar, Matsya (EA2007.254)   Red-vented Bulbul (EA2003.42)

A Raja listening to music on a terrace (EA2001.14)   British officer and his wife (EA1996.115)   Maharana Bhim Singh with a hawk (EA1985.31)   Rajput noblemen in an interior (EA1995.34)