NCERT Class 12 Art & Culture — Chapter 2: The Rajasthani Schools of Painting

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Who is the author of the text 'Rasikapriya', which was frequently illustrated in Rajasthani paintings?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

AJayadeva
BBihari Lal
CKeshav Das
DBhanu Datta

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Solution

The correct option is Keshav Das.

Explanation

The Rasikapriya is a seminal literary work in Braj Bhasha that categorizes and analyzes the various moods (rasas) of romantic love, focusing on the classification of heroes (nayakas) and heroines (nayikas). It served as a primary source of inspiration for visual narratives in Indian miniature paintings.

Keshav Das: A celebrated poet of the Riti Kāl (scholastic period) of Hindi literature and the court poet of Orchha, Keshav Das composed the Rasikapriya in 1591. The text uses the love of Radha and Krishna to explore aesthetic theories. It was extensively illustrated in Rajasthani (e.g., Mewar, Bundi, Kotah) and Pahari (e.g., Kangra, Basohli) schools of miniature painting.
Bihari Lal: Famous for the Bihari Satsai, a collection of 700 couplets (dohas) in Braj Bhasha.
Jayadeva: The 12th-century author of the Gita Govinda, a Sanskrit text describing the relationship between Krishna and the Gopis, particularly Radha.
Bhanu Datta: The author of Rasamanjari, a 15th-century Sanskrit treatise on the classification of heroes and heroines, which was also a popular theme in Basohli paintings.

Key Takeaway: Rasikapriya, authored by Keshav Das, is a foundational text on romantic aesthetics (Riti literature) that heavily influenced the thematic content of Rajasthani and Pahari miniature paintings.

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Which of the following pairs of Schools and Time Periods are correctly matched? 1. Malwa School : 1600-1700 CE 2. Mewar School (Chawand Ragamala) : 1605 CE 3. Bundi School (Chunar Ragamala) : 1591 CE 4. Kishangarh School (Founding) : 1609 CE Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Which of the following pairs of Paintings and Schools are correctly matched? 1. Chaugan Players : Jodhpur 2. The Hour of Godhuli : Jaipur 3. Maru Ragini : Mewar 4. Raga Megha : Malwa Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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With reference to the technique and materials used in Rajasthani Schools of Painting, consider the following statements: 1. The paintings were executed on waslis, which were sheets of paper glued together. 2. The colour pigments were exclusively synthetic dyes imported from Europe. 3. On completion, the painting was burnished with an agate to provide a uniform sheen. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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The correct option is Keshav Das.

Explanation

Keshav Das: A celebrated poet of the Riti Kāl (scholastic period) of Hindi literature and the court poet of Orchha, Keshav Das composed the Rasikapriya in 1591. The text uses the love of Radha and Krishna to explore aesthetic theories. It was extensively illustrated in Rajasthani (e.g., Mewar, Bundi, Kotah) and Pahari (e.g., Kangra, Basohli) schools of miniature painting.
Bihari Lal: Famous for the Bihari Satsai, a collection of 700 couplets (dohas) in Braj Bhasha.
Jayadeva: The 12th-century author of the Gita Govinda, a Sanskrit text describing the relationship between Krishna and the Gopis, particularly Radha.
Bhanu Datta: The author of Rasamanjari, a 15th-century Sanskrit treatise on the classification of heroes and heroines, which was also a popular theme in Basohli paintings.