NCERT Class 12 Art & Culture — Chapter 3: The Mughal School of Miniature Painting

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The painting 'Falcon Perched on a Bird Rest' 1615 is attributed to which Mughal court painter?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

ABasawan
BManohar
CAbul Hasan
DUstad Mansur

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is Ustad Mansur.

Explanation

Mughal miniature painting reached its zenith under the patronage of Emperor Jahangir, who possessed a keen interest in naturalism. The depiction of flora and fauna became a specialized genre during his reign, characterized by scientific precision and aesthetic refinement.

Detailed Analysis:

Ustad Mansur is Correct: Ustad Mansur was the leading nature painter at Jahangir's court. The emperor conferred upon him the title Nadir-ul-Asr ("Wonder of the Age"). Mansur is celebrated for his detailed studies of birds, animals, and flowers. His most famous works include the painting of a Falcon (1615), the Dodo, and the Zebra. The falcon depicted was a gift from Shah Abbas I of Persia to Jahangir; when the bird died, Jahangir ordered Mansur to paint its likeness to preserve its memory.
Abul Hasan is Incorrect: Abul Hasan was a contemporary of Mansur and a favorite of Jahangir, who gave him the title Nadir-uz-Zaman ("Wonder of the Time"). However, his expertise lay primarily in portraiture and complex court scenes, not natural history.
Basawan is Incorrect: Basawan was a pre-eminent painter during the reign of Akbar (Jahangir's father). He was known for his use of western techniques like perspective and shading, primarily contributing to manuscripts like the Akbarnama and Razmnama.
Manohar is Incorrect: Manohar was a distinguished painter active during the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir. While he produced exquisite portraits and court scenes, he is not the primary artist associated with the specific genre of bird and animal studies that defines Mansur's legacy.

Key Takeaway:

Ustad Mansur is the definitive Mughal artist associated with the realistic depiction of flora and fauna during Jahangir's reign, holding the title Nadir-ul-Asr.

Your note

More from Chapter 3: The Mughal School of Miniature Painting

Consider the following pairs of Pigments and their Sources used in Mughal painting: 1. Vermilion : Cinnabar 2. Ultramarine : Lapis Lazuli 3. Bright Yellow : Orpiment 4. Black : Charcoal How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

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With reference to the pre-Mughal and indigenous schools of painting in India, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike the Mughal style, the indigenous style emphasized a flat perspective and bold modelling of figures. 2. The indigenous style was completely replaced by the Mughal style due to the latter's optical reality and finesse. 3. The Mughal style introduced three-dimensional figure portrayal which was absent in the parallel indigenous schools. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Consider the following statements regarding the illustrated manuscript Hamza Nama: 1. It was a project conceived and completed entirely during the reign of Emperor Babur. 2. The paintings were executed directly on cloth rather than on paper. 3. The project was completed under the supervision of the Persian masters Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd us Samad. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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With reference to the artistic developments under Emperor Jahangir, consider the following statements: 1. His atelier preferred mass production of manuscripts over individual high-quality artworks. 2. The practice of creating Muraqqas became popular under his patronage. 3. He employed the artist Basawan to achieve sophistication in painting. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the painting Noah’s Ark from the Diwan-i Hafiz, consider the following statements: 1. It is ascribed to the artist Daswant. 2. It depicts the sons of Noah throwing Iblis out of the ark. 3. It is characterized by a vertical perspective that infuses the painting with dramatic energy. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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The correct option is Ustad Mansur.

Explanation

Detailed Analysis:

Ustad Mansur is Correct: Ustad Mansur was the leading nature painter at Jahangir's court. The emperor conferred upon him the title Nadir-ul-Asr ("Wonder of the Age"). Mansur is celebrated for his detailed studies of birds, animals, and flowers. His most famous works include the painting of a Falcon (1615), the Dodo, and the Zebra. The falcon depicted was a gift from Shah Abbas I of Persia to Jahangir; when the bird died, Jahangir ordered Mansur to paint its likeness to preserve its memory.
Abul Hasan is Incorrect: Abul Hasan was a contemporary of Mansur and a favorite of Jahangir, who gave him the title Nadir-uz-Zaman ("Wonder of the Time"). However, his expertise lay primarily in portraiture and complex court scenes, not natural history.
Basawan is Incorrect: Basawan was a pre-eminent painter during the reign of Akbar (Jahangir's father). He was known for his use of western techniques like perspective and shading, primarily contributing to manuscripts like the Akbarnama and Razmnama.
Manohar is Incorrect: Manohar was a distinguished painter active during the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir. While he produced exquisite portraits and court scenes, he is not the primary artist associated with the specific genre of bird and animal studies that defines Mansur's legacy.

Key Takeaway:

Ustad Mansur is the definitive Mughal artist associated with the realistic depiction of flora and fauna during Jahangir's reign, holding the title Nadir-ul-Asr.