Under Jahangir, the Mughal atelier received art from many sources. Which three styles did the artists of the Mughal atelier creatively assimilate, making the Mughal Art School a melting pot of vibrant styles?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Indigenous, Persian and European
Option (1) Indigenous, Persian and Byzantine — Incorrect. Byzantine art reached the atelier through one theme, the Madonna, under Akbar. It is not one of the three styles.
Option (2) Rajasthani, Turkish and European — Incorrect. The Rajasthani schools were a separate school of painting, and the second style came from Persia, through the artists brought from Iran.
Option (3) Indigenous, Persian and European — Correct. The artists of the atelier creatively assimilated the indigenous, Persian and European styles, making it a melting pot of vibrant styles.
Option (4) Indigenous, Turkish and Byzantine — Incorrect. Byzantine art reached the atelier only through one theme, the Madonna. The second style was Persian, not Turkish.
NCERT (2026-27): “Early Mughal Painting …Jahangir was presented with paintings and decorative objects, depicting high arts from Europe, as gifts from the Europeans, who visited his court. … Given this cultural and artistic exposure, European art sensibilities started making their way into the prevalent Indo-Iranian style, thereby, making the Jahangir school of art more impressive and vibrant. The spatial depth of the composition and naturalistic representation of life reflect the high benchmarks that the sensitive patron created for art during his lifetime. The artists of the Mughal atelier creatively assimilated the three styles — indigenous, Persian and European, making the Mughal Art School a melting pot of vibrant styles of its time yet very distinct in its own way.” |