Test: The Mughal School of Miniature Painting- 2 - Humanities/Arts MCQ

Noah’s Ark, from a dispersed Divan-i Hafiz painted manuscript of 1590, is an excellent painting in subdued colour palette and has been ascribed to Miskin, one of the masters at Akbar’s imperial atelier.

This painting lies in the collection of Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., USA.

Harivamsa Purana is one of the many Sanskrit manuscripts, which were translated into Persian by the Mughals. Badauni, a scholar noble in the court of Akbar, was assigned the job of translating this volume on Lord Krishna into Persian.

European travelers who visited Jahangir’s court presented him with paintings and decorative objects from Europe.

Jahangir’s fascination for European art and theme prompted him to have more such works in his collection.

The Mughal Art School creatively assimilated the three styles - indigenous, Persian, and European.

Khurram stands in attendance with his hands folded, flanked by his son Shuja, son of Mumtaz Mahal, who was raised in the court by Nur Jahan.

Jahangir’s Dream (1618-22) by Abul Hasan, given the title Nadir al Zaman, meaning the ‘Wonder of the Age’.

Two animals sleep quietly. However, the symbolism of their depiction does not escape the viewer. The powerful lion, on which Jahangir towers, and the docile sheep, on which the Persian Shah stands, sharing a magnificent resplendent golden halo of the Sun and Moon held by two winged angels indicate of being inspired by the incoming European art motifs and imageries in the Mughal court.

Jahangir’s son Khurram succeeded the throne of Delhi by the name Shah Jahan (1628–1658).