A large section of medieval paintings are appropriately referred to as manuscript illustrations. Why are they given this name?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → They are pictorial translations of poetic verses
Option (1) Their text is sometimes found behind the work of art — Incorrect. The text is found behind the work only sometimes. This is a feature of some works, not the reason for the name.
Option (2) They are pictorial translations of poetic verses — Correct. They are called manuscript illustrations as they are pictorial translations of poetic verses from texts (manuscripts).
Option (3) They were methodically conceived in thematic sets — Incorrect. They were conceived in thematic sets of loose folios. This is how they were planned, not why they carry the name.
Option (4) They were hand-held and observed from a closer distance — Incorrect. This is said of miniature paintings, owing to their minutiae. It does not explain the name manuscript illustrations.
Note: This topic was not named in the CUET 2026 syllabus, but it was part of the NCERT chapter. In 2025 and 2026, NTA also asked questions on topics in NCERT that the CUET syllabus did not name. So our mocks have questions from every part of the NCERT chapter, to give you enough practice. Read the whole chapter, not only the sub-topics named in the syllabus.
NCERT (2026-27): “The Manuscript Painting Tradition …A large section of paintings are appropriately referred to as manuscript illustrations as they are pictorial translations of poetic verses from epics and various canonical, literary, bardic or music texts (manuscripts), with verses handwritten on the topmost portion of the painting in clearly demarcated box–like space. Sometimes, one finds the text not in the front but behind the work of art. Manuscript illustrations were methodically conceived in thematic sets (each set comprising several loose paintings or folios).…” |