Question

Mughal painting reached its zenith during the reign of ____
A. Akbar
B. Jahangir
C. Both (A) and (B)
D. Shah Jahan

Answer 1

Hint: During his reign, Mughal paintings achieved their zenith. Many great painters, such as Monsoon, Abul Hasan, Jaswant and Basawan, patronized him.
-He had an artistic penchant and Mughal painting grew further during his rule. The brushwork was smaller, the shades brighter.
-European art was also strongly inspired by him.

Complete answer: (a)Akbar-
There are a number of fine Akbar portraits, but it was under his successors Jahangir and Shah Jahan that the ruler's portrait became firmly known in Indian miniature painting as a leading subject. This is not the correct answer.
(b)Jahangir-
European art was also strongly inspired by Jahangir. He came into close contact with the English Crown during his reign and was given gifts of oil paintings involving portraits of the King and Queen.
Unlike the flattened multi-layered form seen in traditional miniatures, he inspired his royal studio to take up the single point perspective preferred by European artists.
(c)Both A and B-
This is not the correct answer, Hence Option C. is an incorrect option.
(d)Shah Jahan-
While during the reign of Shah Jahan, Mughal painting continued to develop, the paintings exhibited in the court became increasingly static and formal. This is not the correct answer, Hence Option D. is an incorrect option.
Therefore, option B is correct.

Note: Jahangir rose to the throne after the death of Akbar, the Mughal empire's architect and influential patron of the arts.
-He had founded his own studio in Allahabad as a prince and had clear artistic preferences, choosing to focus on a picture by a single painter rather than the collective approach of Akbar's time.