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refinement. Another popular form of surface ornamentation in Mughal decorative art is enamelling, which is usually applied to the backs of jewellery pieces. Like pietra dura, this technique originated in Europe. European jewellers who were employed in Mughal royal ateliers introduced the technique to their Indian counterparts, who took to it with great aptitude. These creative syntheses were the result of well-established contacts between the Mughals and Europe, which was probably more extensive than any other Asian civilisation.

Precious materials were also incorporated into one of the most celebrated forms of Mughal art miniature paintings, which have been a central element of Mughal courts since the time of Babur (1483-1530), founder of the dynasty. Gold and silver leaf was used to illuminate the paintings, adding brilliance to their highly narrative content. Precious and semi-precious stones were ground and combined with pigments derived from vegetables and minerals, yielding bold contrasts of reds, blues, greens and yellows. As a result, these paintings often look as vibrant today, as they must have hundreds of years ago.

Due to their foresight, Mughal rulers provided a secure and centralised government that brought about prosperity in the empire, allowing the arts to flourish. Their intellect, coupled with their taste for the fine things in life, brought forth all forms of artistic genius from landscape gardening to Mughlai cuisine. Though the might of the empire eventually fell, we are left with many reminders of a glorious past and their beauty is enduring.

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