A Comparative Study of Preservation Difficulties in the Artworks of the Maryam Zamani and Wazir Khan Mosque

This study addresses the essential preservation unstable facing the layer of artworks of Lahore’s great Mughal heritage, emphasizing on the material damaged of architectural ornamentation. The agenda of this study is to relative analysis is the exam how structural design functionals and localized environmental and the tangible breakdown of historical native arts like calligraphy and illumination. Specifically, this paper explores the internal Buon Fresco the exterior of the Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum against the external glazed tile-mosaic of Kashi-Kari  panels of the Wazir Khan Mosque. Mughal architecture specially mosques in Lahore represents a complex intersection of structure and profound philosophical intent, where spatial layout and external ornamentation work in sequence to create an immersive spiritual environment. Employing a dual-lens methodology that link the architectural conservation with fine arts visual analysis, the study utilizes non-destructive approach of documentation, including spatial structural judgements. The results reveal that the sunken topography of the Maryam Zamani Mosque traps groundwater, inducing high hydrostatic pressure and salt sub-fluorescence that mechanically shears the delicate intonaco plaster layer from its masonry backing, causing calligraphic erasure. Conversely, the Wazir Khan Mosque suffers from structural microfractures induced by encroaching urban loads, coupled with severe glaze exfoliation triggered by atmospheric pollution and differential thermal expansion. This study concludes that exterior decay is directly dictated by structural typography and macro-environmental shifts. The implications of this research demand an immediate shift in preservation paradigms: conservation interventions must move away from purely cosmetic restorations and toward unified, material-specific frameworks that protect both the tectonic stability of the architect’s scaffolding and the aesthetic authenticity of the artist’s hand. Keywords: Wazir Khan Mosque, Maryam Zamani Mosque, Preservation, Mughal Heritage, Calligraphy and Illumination, Kashi-Kari, Naqashi.