Visitors to Jahangir’s court gave him paintings as gifts. What prompted him to have more such works in his collection?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → His fascination for European art and theme
Option (1) His curious taste for delicate observations and fine details — Incorrect. As Prince Salim, Jahangir had a curious taste and encouraged delicate observations and fine details. This was his taste from an early age, not the cause given for collecting more such works.
Option (2) His interest in scientific correctness in rendering flora and fauna — Incorrect. Jahangir’s memoirs, the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, tell of his efforts at scientific correctness in rendering flora and fauna. This is not linked to his European works.
Option (3) His fascination for European art and theme — Correct. Gifts from European visitors and contact with the English Crown led to Jahangir’s fascination for European art and theme. This prompted him to have more such works.
Option (4) His fascination for Persian and Islamic themes — Incorrect. Persian and Islamic themes were among the subjects of Mughal painting under Akbar’s patronage. They did not bring European works into the collection.
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. With such a contact with the English Crown, Jahangir’s fascination for European art and theme prompted him to have more such works in his collection. Many celebrated religious Christian themes were also produced in the royal atelier of Jahangir.…” |