‘Pietra Dura’ is an Italian term for the technique in Mughal architecture meaning inlay work with semi-precious stones and jewels on marble. Tiny, precisely cut pieces of stones like lapis lazuli and agate are inlaid into carved depressions in the marble, creating exquisite, durable and colorful floral or geometrical patterns. The correct answer is (B) Inlay work with jewels on marble stone.
In the context of Mughal architecture, what does ‘Pietra Dura’ mean? (A) Painting done on marble (B) Inlay work with jewels on marble stone (C) The art of garden construction (D) None of these
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‘Pietra Dura’ (Italian for “hard stone”) in Mughal architecture refers to the decorative technique of inlay work using highly polished, precisely cut, colored, semi-precious stones into carved recesses in a marble background. This delicate mosaic work, which originated in Italy and was refined by the Mughals, typically depicts intricate floral and geometrical motifs. Its earliest significant use is seen in the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah and it reached its zenith in the decoration of the Taj Mahal during Shah Jahan’s reign.