Jahangir set up his own atelier alongside his father Akbar’s. In contrast to Akbar’s atelier, what did Jahangir’s atelier give preference to?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Fewer and better works by a single master artist
Option (1) Mass-produced works made by groups of artists — Incorrect. Mass production was the way of Akbar’s atelier. Jahangir’s atelier moved away from it.
Option (2) Fewer and better works by a single master artist — Correct. Jahangir preferred a lesser number and better quality of artworks, each made by one master artist.
Option (3) War scenes, portraits, narrative and storytelling — Incorrect. These subjects were prevalent in Akbar’s style. Under Jahangir they gave way to minute details and lavish court scenes.
Option (4) Idealisation and great stylisation over naturalism — Incorrect. Idealisation and great stylisation were preferred in Shah Jahan’s court, not in Jahangir’s.
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 war scenes, portraits, narrative and storytelling prevalent in Akbar’s style were overtaken by minute details and refined rendering of lavish court scenes, aristocracy, royal personalities, as well as, character traits, and distinctiveness of flora and fauna.” |