UPSC Prelims 2019 Q17: Art & Culture – Music
- (a) Humayun
- (b) Akbar
- (c) Jahangir
- (d) Shah Jahan
Answer: (c) Jahangir
Explanation
Mughal Painting: Shift to Albums & Portraits
| Emperor | Painting Focus |
|---|---|
| Humayun | Brought Persian masters (Mir Sayyid Ali, Abdus Samad) - foundation of Mughal school. |
| Akbar | Grand illustrated manuscripts (Hamzanama, Akbarnama, Razmnama, Baburnama) - large karkhana with over 100 artists. |
| Jahangir | Shifted to ALBUMS (Muraqqa) and INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS. Naturalism, botanical/zoological studies (durbar scenes, flowers, birds). Court artists: Ustad Mansur, Abul Hasan, Bishandas. |
| Shah Jahan | Continued portrait/album tradition; more formal, jewel-like, courtly stiffness; Padshahnama illustrations. |
Jahangir is credited with shifting Mughal painting from illustrated manuscripts to albums and individual portraits.
Answer: (c) Jahangir.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Humayun founded Mughal painting but the shift to albums came later under Jahangir.
- (b) Incorrect. Akbar's era was defined by grand ILLUSTRATED MANUSCRIPTS, not albums/portraits.
- (c) CORRECT. Jahangir emphasized muraqqa albums and individual portraiture with naturalistic detail; Ustad Mansur and Abul Hasan flourished.
- (d) Incorrect. Shah Jahan continued the album tradition but did not initiate the shift.
Key point
Jahangir = albums (muraqqa) + individual portraits + naturalism (flora/fauna, Ustad Mansur, Abul Hasan). Akbar = illustrated manuscripts.
Remember
Emperor Jahangir shifted the emphasis of Mughal painting from illustrated manuscripts (which had peaked under Akbar) to albums (muraqqas) and individual portraits, with a strong naturalistic interest in flora and fauna captured by artists like Ustad Mansur and Abul Hasan.
Common mistakes
- Confusing 'Akbarnama' (illustrated manuscript, Akbar era) with Jahangir's memoir 'Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri' (accompanied by album paintings).
- Assuming Shah Jahan started portraiture - he continued and formalized it.
- Missing Ustad Mansur (Jahangir's zoological/botanical painter) and Abul Hasan (Nadir-uz-Zaman, portraitist).
Exam tip
Mughal painting evolution mantra: Humayun = foundation. Akbar = manuscripts. Jahangir = albums + portraits + naturalism. Shah Jahan = formal courtly. Aurangzeb = decline.
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 - An Introduction to Indian Art (Mughal painting chapter)
- Percy Brown - Indian Painting under the Mughals