The sixteenth-century paintings of Ahmadnagar draw their landscape and other features from several regions. Consider the following statements:
(A) All the Deccani kingdoms owe their landscape idiom to Persia.
(B) Instead of a horizon, some paintings show a neutral coloured ground patterned with small stylised plants.
(C) In place of the horizon, some paintings show symmetrical architectural domes over tall palm trees.
(D) Except the hairstyle, these features of the paintings have traces of north India or Persia.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B) and (D) only
A. All the Deccani kingdoms owe their landscape idiom to Persia. — Correct. All Deccani kingdoms owe a debt to Persia for their landscape idiom.
B. Instead of a horizon, some paintings show a neutral coloured ground patterned with small stylised plants. — Correct. The horizon disappears and a neutral coloured ground with small stylised plants takes its place.
C. In place of the horizon, some paintings show symmetrical architectural domes over tall palm trees. — Incorrect. The symmetrical domes stand over the arcades, not over palm trees.
D. Except the hairstyle, these features of the paintings have traces of north India or Persia. — Correct. The hairstyle is the one feature left out; the rest show traces of north India or Persia.
NCERT (2026-27): “Ahmadnagar School of Painting …The high circular horizon and gold sky have Persian influence. We may see the debt of all Deccani kingdoms, which they owe to Persia for their landscape idiom. These feminine dress, present in a series of Ragamala paintings, are the most striking and moving examples of the sixteenth century Deccan Schools of Painting. The women’s hair is rolled up in a bun on the nape of the neck, similar to the Lepakshi murals. The horizon, in the painting, disappears and is replaced by a neutral coloured ground patterned all over with small stylised plants, or occupied by symmetrical architectural domes over the archades. All these features, except the hairstyle, have traces of north India or Persia.” |