Jahangir’s atelier preferred fewer and better works, each by a single master artist. What were the individual paintings mounted in albums, which became popular under his patronage, called?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Muraqqas
Option (1) Manuscripts — Incorrect. A manuscript such as the Razm Nama is a whole illustrated book; it held 169 paintings and was made in Akbar’s atelier. It is not a set of single paintings for albums.
Option (2) Diwans — Incorrect. The Diwan of Amir Shahi is the work from which the painting A Prince and a Hermit comes. It is not the name given to album paintings.
Option (3) Folios — Incorrect. A Prince and a Hermit is a folio from the Diwan of Amir Shahi, a page of that work. It belongs to a book, not to an album of single paintings.
Option (4) Muraqqas — Correct. Muraqqas were individual paintings mounted in albums. They became popular under Jahangir, with margins illuminated in gold.
NCERT (2026-27): “The Mughal School of Miniature Painting …In contrast to the Akbar’s atelier, where the works were mass produced, Jahangir’s atelier gave preference to a lesser number and better quality of artworks produced by a single master artist. The Muraqqas individual paintings to be mounted in albums became popular under Jahangir’s patronage. The margins of the paintings were highly illuminated in gold and embellished with flora, fauna, and often poised human figures.” |