Origins of Mughal Painting

Painters of Humayun's Circle | Bihzad Comparison

Bihzad was not associated with Humayun's court; he was a legendary Persian master of the Timurid period who influenced later Mughal artists.

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Which one of the following painters was not associated with Humayun?

[UPSC CDS 2021(I)]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


While the Mughal school was founded on Persian principles, the specific artists who moved to India with Humayun belonged to the Safavid court, following the era of the great Bihzad.

Authentic Source Evidence


Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad (and their associates like Maulana Dost) were the primary painters who accompanied Humayun from Persia to Kabul and then to India. Bihzad was a legendary master of the Timurid era who died before the Mughal school was established in India.

Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1: Bihzad is the 'Raphael of the East', active in the late 15th and early 16th century in Herat and Tabriz, but he never served the Mughals in India.

  • Logic 2: Options A, B, and C identify the specific Safavid-trained artists who formed the first Mughal Nigaar Khana (studio).
  • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "Who is often called the 'father of Mughal painting'?"

    Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad are considered the joint fathers of the Mughal school.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "Bihzad was a spiritual ancestor and stylistic influence for Mughal painters, but he was not part of their physical administrative circle."

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