Artists of the Rajasthani schools are known from inscriptions and court records. Which of the following pairs of artist and work or patron is correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Nuruddin – painted the Rasikapriya painting Krishna Swinging and Radha in Sad Mood
Option (1) Ustad Ali Raza – master painter employed by Anup Singh — Incorrect. Ali Raza, a master painter from Delhi, was employed by Karan Singh. In Anup Singh’s reign the master artist was Ruknuddin.
Option (2) Nuruddin – painted the Rasikapriya painting Krishna Swinging and Radha in Sad Mood — Correct. The painting is inscribed with its date and artist: Nuruddin, who worked in the court of Bikaner.
Option (3) Ruknuddin – painted the equestrian portrait of Aniruddha Singh — Incorrect. That portrait is by Tulchi Ram. Ruknuddin was the master artist of Bikaner under Anup Singh.
Option (4) Sahibdin – painted Chaugan Players, a princess playing polo with companions — Incorrect. Chaugan Players is by Dana of Jodhpur. Sahibdin is the chitara named in the Maru Ragini inscription.
NCERT (2026-27): “Bikaner School of Painting …Karan Singh had employed Ustad Ali Raza, who was a master painter from Delhi. His earliest work represents the beginnings of Bikaner School, which can be dated back to around 1650. In the reign of Anup Singh, Ruknuddin (whose ancestors came from the Mughal court) was the master artist, whose style was an amalgamation of the indigenous idiom with Deccani and Mughal conventions.” “Krishna Swinging and Radha in Sad Mood This painting, illustrating Rasikapriya, is notable as it is inscribed with a date and name of the artist. Painted in 1683 by artist Nuruddin, who worked in the court of Bikaner from 1674 to 1698, it presents a stark and simple composition with minimal and suggestive representation of architecture and elements of landscape.” |