Picturing Tanbur Long-Necked Lutes in Persian, Ottoman, and Indian Paintings

<p>The abundant depiction of musical instruments in Persian, Ottoman, and Indian paintings from the Mughal, Râjput, Deccan, and Râgamâlâ traditions illustrates their significance and popularity. These paintings are an important source for understanding the instruments that were mainly played in courtly and urban environments. Among the most commonly represented instruments are those from the lute family, especially the short-necked <em>‘ûd</em>, prevalent in the western Islamic world, and the long-necked <em>tanbûr</em>, commonly associated with the eastern region.</p><p><br></p><p>Like the tradition of <em>tanbûr </em>long-necked lutes, the painting traditions within Islamic art are characterized by a great variety, shaped by complex historical and cross-cultural interactions across Western, Central, and Southern Asia. This volume presents a comprehensive view of depictions of <em>tanbûrs </em>found in Persian, Ottoman, and especially Mughal paintings, exploring issues of cross-cultural influence, the role of the <em>tanbûr </em>in elite society, and the accuracy with which musical instruments are represented.</p>