Babur was succeeded by his eldest son Humayun, who failed in asserting strong monarchical authority. The Mughal empire received a setback, when Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in the battles of Chausa and Kanauj in 1540. For nearly fifteen years (1540-55), Humayun had to stay in exile. But shortly after regaining the empire Humayun died in 1556 after falling down his library stairs (the ‘Sher Mandil’).

The foundation of the Mughal school of painting was laid by Humayun

The foundation of Mughal painting was laid by Humayun who during the years of his exile in Persia and Afghanistan secured the services of Persia’s two greatest masters, Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad. During the reign of Akbar, there was a fusion of Persian and Indian style of painting.