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.

With reference to the painting Zebra… - NCERT Class 12 Art & Culture MCQ

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

mcqmedium

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?

NCERT textbook question

From NCERT An Introduction to Indian Art - Part II

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

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 painting Jahangir in Darbar on 1620: 1. It depicts Prince Aurangzeb standing in attendance. 2. It is attributed to the artists Abul Hasan and Manohar. 3. The painting strictly excludes any European figures or Jesuit priests. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Who among the following was the court historian of Akbar who recorded that more than a hundred artists were employed in the royal atelier?

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Which European monarch is portrayed in the painting 'Jahangir enthroned on an Hourglass'?

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The painting Zebra 1621 by Ustad Mansur depicts an animal brought from which region?

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