Previous Year Question

Mughal emperor Jahangir was an exceptionally keen connoisseur and patron of painting. He had developed a deep interest in painting even as Prince Salim and maintained an independent painting workshop of his own.

During Jahangir's reign, Mughal painting witnessed a distinctive development of naturalism, minute observation and realistic portraiture. Compared with the large narrative compositions of Akbar's period, individual portraits, animals, birds, flowers, plants and detailed studies of nature became more prominent under Jahangir.

Jahangir himself was such a discerning judge of paintings that he claimed in his memoirs that by examining a picture he could identify which painters had executed its different portions.

Among the leading painters of his court were Ustad Mansur, Abul Hasan, Bishandas and Farrukh Beg.

Ustad Mansur was particularly celebrated for paintings of animals, birds and natural subjects. Jahangir honoured him with the prestigious title Nadir-ul-Asr. His works display extremely detailed and naturalistic representations of birds and unusual animals.

Abul Hasan was another favourite painter of Jahangir and received the title Nadir-uz-Zaman. Bishandas was particularly renowned for portrait painting.

Therefore, Jahangir's reign is especially associated with the flourishing of Mughal painting, particularly portraiture and naturalistic painting.