Comparison of Miniature of Mughal School and Herat School based on Coomaraswamy Thought

This article aims to compare the paintings of Gurkani School( paintings of Mughal Court in India) and the paintings of Herat school, based on Coomaraswamy’s thoughts. Coomaraswamy’s thoughts have been used in comparing the two schools, because there is something unexpected in his works, that is, attributing undesirable elements to Islamic art! While, other proponents of the Traditionalist School, have been praising this art. Thus, our purpose is to show the undesirable elements do not exist in the whole structure of Islamic art. Rather, it exists only in a part of this art, especially in the paintings of Gurkani School unlike the Herat School, which is approved by Coomaraswamy, as one of the glory examples of Islamic traditional art. This purpose is pursued through a descriptive-analytical research method with a comparative approach. The findings reveal that  the existence of non-traditional elements in the Gurkani School such as paying attention to the artist as a unique character, using historical subjects, imitating nature, employing worldly and luxury oriented views has separated this school of painting from Islamic art tradition. Whereas, the School of Herat is identified with its traditional characteristics, for example, having a traditional origin, conceiving the artist as a part of the traditional process, and encompassing metaphorical themes and styles.