The Mughal Jaali

The Mughal Jaali

Perforated lattice screens, or ‘jālis,’  are ubiquitous in the Indo-Islamic architecture of the Subcontinent. Filtering light, while providing their enclosures with privacy, they are some of the most elaborate design features particularly in Mughal buildings. The interplay of light, shadow, and pattern, has always one of my primary interests out of all the manifestations of Islamic art and architecture. 

This growing collection aims to analyse and recreate classical examples of geometry of the Mughal style, and what makes it unique among the mastery of other Islamic geometric canons, such as the Seljuks, Moors, Mamluks or Persians.

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Featured here are my analyses, drawings and studies from various Mughal monuments and a few paintings from 2015 to present. 

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For my mirror jaali work, click here
For more jaalis from Deccani architecture, click here

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Monuments studied:
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
It'imad Ud Daulah, Agra
Fatehpur Sikri
Emperor Akbar's tomb, Sikandra
Muhammad Ghouse tomb, Gwalior

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All photos and analyses my own, unless mentioned otherwise.
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Analysis by Richard Henry

Analysis by Richard Henry


BAHAR
The ocean on paper
2015

Watercolour study on mixed-media paper
Pattern from Humayun's Tomb
25cm x 25cm

yaqoot
Rubies on paper
2015

Watercolour study on mixed-media paper
Pattern from Humayun's Tomb
25cm x 25cm


Humayun's tomb 002
2015

Gouache on mixed-media paper
Pattern from Humayun's Tomb
42cm x 29.7cm

v&a Jaali
2015

Ink on paper
Pattern from V&A Collection
Analysis by Richard Henry

Mughal Jaali by Aziza Iqbal

Al HADID, 57
2015

Gouache on paper
Pattern from Iti'mad ud Daula
32cm x 32cm​​​​​​​

Mughal Jaali by Aziza Iqbal

Al Mulk, 67
2015

Gouache on paper
Pattern from Humayun's Tomb
32cm x 32cm


PROLOGUE: THE LIGHT WITHIN I
2016

Gouache and gold leaf on tea-stained paper
Pattern from Fatehpur Sikri
30cm x 30cm

PROLOGUE: THE LIGHT WITHIN II
2016

Gouache and silver leaf on tea-stained paper
Pattern from Isa Khan Tomb
25cm x 25cm

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART COLLECTION

From the Imperial Threads Exhibition, 2017


MIA jaali
2017

Watercolour on 100% cotton khadi paper
Pattern from the collection at Museum of Islamic Art, Doha
21cm x 29.7cm



CIARO PENTAGONS
2017

Watercolour on paper
Pattern from Fatehpur Sikri
25cm x 25cm

Humayun's Tomb 003
2019

Watercolour and 22k gold leaf on 100% cotton paper
Pattern from Humayun's Tomb
38cm x 38cm
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