Which ruler of Bundi, whose whiskered face is visible in many portraits, encouraged the art of painting despite political disputes and having lost his kingdom four times?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Budh Singh
Option (1) Rao Chattar Sal — Incorrect. He was made governor of Delhi by Shahjahan. Bundi painting blossomed under him and his son, but he is not the ruler who lost his kingdom four times.
Option (2) Aniruddha Singh — Incorrect. Innovative developments were seen in his reign (1682–1702) and in Budh Singh’s, but the whiskered portraits are of Budh Singh.
Option (3) Bhoj Singh — Incorrect. The Bundi Ragamala of the earliest phase was painted at Chunar in his reign.
Option (4) Budh Singh — Correct. Budh Singh, whose whiskered face is seen in many portraits, encouraged painting despite many political disputes and losing his kingdom four times.
NCERT (2026-27): “Bundi School of Painting …The Bundi school blossomed under the patronage of two rulers — Rao Chattar Sal (1631–1659), who was made the governor of Delhi by Shahjahan and played a conspicuous role in the subjugation of the Deccan; and his son Rao Bhao Singh (1659–1682), who was an enthusiastic, self-indulging patron as revealed from numerous portraits that he commissioned of himself and other dated works. Innovative developments have been observed under the reigns of his successors Aniruddha Singh (1682–1702) and Budh Singh, whose whiskered face is visible in many portraits. Despite numerous political disputes and having lost his kingdom four times, he is known to have encouraged the art of painting.” |