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

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Which European painter was deeply inspired by Mughal court paintings and made studies of Indian drawings to master delicate lines?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

ARembrandt
BLeonardo da Vinci
CMichelangelo
DRaphael

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is Rembrandt.

Explanation

The 17th century witnessed a significant artistic exchange between the Mughal Empire and Europe. While Mughal ateliers under Jahangir and Shah Jahan adopted European techniques such as perspective and chiaroscuro (light and shade), European artists were simultaneously exposed to Indian art through trade networks established by the Dutch East India Company.

Historical Analysis:

Rembrandt van Rijn, the celebrated Dutch Golden Age painter, is historically documented to have possessed a collection of Mughal miniatures.
He was deeply intrigued by the precision, delicate line work, and costume details found in these paintings.
Rembrandt produced a series of drawings (sketches) that were direct studies of Mughal portraits, including depictions of Emperor Shah Jahan and his courtiers. In these studies, he moved away from his signature heavy shadowing to adopt the refined, continuous lines characteristic of the Mughal style.
Other options like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael belong to the High Renaissance period (15th-16th century), which predates the peak of the Mughal-European artistic exchange that occurred during the 17th century.

Key Takeaway:

Rembrandt is the European master known for studying and copying Mughal miniatures, specifically from the Shah Jahan era, to master the technique of delicate line drawing.

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?

hard

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?

medium

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 Rembrandt.

Explanation

Historical Analysis:

Rembrandt van Rijn, the celebrated Dutch Golden Age painter, is historically documented to have possessed a collection of Mughal miniatures.
He was deeply intrigued by the precision, delicate line work, and costume details found in these paintings.
Rembrandt produced a series of drawings (sketches) that were direct studies of Mughal portraits, including depictions of Emperor Shah Jahan and his courtiers. In these studies, he moved away from his signature heavy shadowing to adopt the refined, continuous lines characteristic of the Mughal style.
Other options like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael belong to the High Renaissance period (15th-16th century), which predates the peak of the Mughal-European artistic exchange that occurred during the 17th century.

Key Takeaway:

Rembrandt is the European master known for studying and copying Mughal miniatures, specifically from the Shah Jahan era, to master the technique of delicate line drawing.