U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012

Evolution of Mughal Schools

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who among the following were Jahangiri painters? 1. Abdus Samad 2. Abul Hasan 3. Aqa Riza 4. Mir Sayyid Ali Select the correct answer for the codes given below:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept The Mughal school of painting evolved across generations, from the foundational Persian masters under Humayun/Akbar to the refined specialists under Jahangir.

Explanation
Jahangiri Era: Abul Hasan and Aqa Riza (his father) were active during Jahangir's reign. Aqa Riza headed the Allahabad studio for Jahangir before his coronation.
Akbari/Humayun Era: Abdus Samad and Mir Sayyid Ali were the two Persian masters who laid the foundation of the school under Humayun and flourished under Akbar.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Statements 2 and 3 correctly identify the father-son duo associated with Jahangir's naturalist style.
Logic 2: Statements 1 and 4 belong to the early phase of the Mughal school (16th century).

Active Recall

Question

Who were the two painters who accompanied Humayun from Persia?

Answer

Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad.

Core Insight

The shift from Abdus Samad to Abul Hasan mirrors the transition from formal Persian stylization to Indianized Mughal realism.