With reference to the painting Zebra 1621, consider the following statements: 1. Jahangir initially suspected the animal was a horse with painted stripes. 2. The painting contains no inscriptions or text. 3. The animal was eventually sent as a gift to the Shah of Iran. Which of the statements given above are correct?

The correct option is 1 and 3 only. Explanation The painting Zebra (1621) is a celebrated work of Mughal miniature art attributed to Ustad Mansur, the court artist of Emperor Jahangir known for his natural history illustrations. The painting documents a zebra brought to the Mughal court from Abyssinia (Ethiopia) by Mir Ja'far. Statement-wise Analysis: - Statement 1 is Correct: According to the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Memoirs of Jahangir), the Emperor had never seen a zebra before. He initially suspected that the black stripes were painted onto a horse. To verify its authenticity, he ordered the animal to be washed. When the stripes remained, he was convinced it was a natural wonder. - Statement 2 is Incorrect: The painting contains specific inscriptions in Persian. It bears the inscription identifying the subject and attributing the work to Ustad Mansur, who held the title Nadir-ul-Asr (Wonder of the Age). The text provides the date (the 16th regnal year of Jahangir) and context for the artwork. - Statement 3 is Correct: Jahangir, known for his curiosity about exotic flora and fauna, eventually sent the zebra as a rare diplomatic gift to Shah Abbas I of Iran (Persia), with whom the Mughals maintained significant, though occasionally strained, diplomatic relations. Key Takeaway: Ustad Mansur was the preeminent painter of flora and fauna during Jahangir's reign, famous for his realistic depictions of the Dodo, the Zebra, and the Red Tulip. His works often included inscriptions documenting the subject.

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

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With reference to the painting Zebra 1621, consider the following statements:

Jahangir initially suspected the animal was a horse with painted stripes.
The painting contains no inscriptions or text.
The animal was eventually sent as a gift to the Shah of Iran.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A2 only
B1 and 2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is 1 and 3 only.

Explanation

The painting Zebra (1621) is a celebrated work of Mughal miniature art attributed to Ustad Mansur, the court artist of Emperor Jahangir known for his natural history illustrations. The painting documents a zebra brought to the Mughal court from Abyssinia (Ethiopia) by Mir Ja'far.

Statement-wise Analysis:

Statement 1 is Correct: According to the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Memoirs of Jahangir), the Emperor had never seen a zebra before. He initially suspected that the black stripes were painted onto a horse. To verify its authenticity, he ordered the animal to be washed. When the stripes remained, he was convinced it was a natural wonder.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The painting contains specific inscriptions in Persian. It bears the inscription identifying the subject and attributing the work to Ustad Mansur, who held the title Nadir-ul-Asr (Wonder of the Age). The text provides the date (the 16th regnal year of Jahangir) and context for the artwork.
Statement 3 is Correct: Jahangir, known for his curiosity about exotic flora and fauna, eventually sent the zebra as a rare diplomatic gift to Shah Abbas I of Iran (Persia), with whom the Mughals maintained significant, though occasionally strained, diplomatic relations.

Key Takeaway:
Ustad Mansur was the preeminent painter of flora and fauna during Jahangir's reign, famous for his realistic depictions of the Dodo, the Zebra, and the Red Tulip. His works often included inscriptions documenting the subject.

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?

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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 1 and 3 only.

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis:

Statement 1 is Correct: According to the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Memoirs of Jahangir), the Emperor had never seen a zebra before. He initially suspected that the black stripes were painted onto a horse. To verify its authenticity, he ordered the animal to be washed. When the stripes remained, he was convinced it was a natural wonder.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The painting contains specific inscriptions in Persian. It bears the inscription identifying the subject and attributing the work to Ustad Mansur, who held the title Nadir-ul-Asr (Wonder of the Age). The text provides the date (the 16th regnal year of Jahangir) and context for the artwork.
Statement 3 is Correct: Jahangir, known for his curiosity about exotic flora and fauna, eventually sent the zebra as a rare diplomatic gift to Shah Abbas I of Iran (Persia), with whom the Mughals maintained significant, though occasionally strained, diplomatic relations.