Ustad Mansoor, the court painter of Jahangir was famous for which type of painting?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

Uttarakhand (Patwari/Lekhpal) Official Paper (Held On: 8 Jan 2023)

Answer 1

The correct answer is animals and birds.

Key Points

Ustad Mansoor was a renowned painter in the court of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, recognized for his extraordinary skill in depicting animals and birds.
He was known for his remarkable accuracy and detail in natural history paintings, making his works scientifically significant.
One of his most famous works is the painting of the Dodo bird, which is considered one of the earliest visual documentations of this now-extinct species.
Ustad Mansoor was given the title of Nadir-ul-Asr (Wonder of the Age) by Jahangir in recognition of his unparalleled artistic talents.
His contributions to Mughal art exemplify the synthesis of art and science, as his paintings were not just artistic but also served as accurate biological illustrations.

Additional Information

Mughal Paintings:
- Mughal paintings are a distinctive style of South Asian miniature painting developed during the Mughal Empire (16th–19th centuries).
- They often depicted court scenes, portraits, and natural subjects like flora and fauna.
- The Mughal emperors, especially Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan, were great patrons of art, fostering the growth of this unique style.
Jahangir and Naturalism in Art:
- Emperor Jahangir was deeply interested in nature and commissioned numerous works that focused on animals, birds, and flowers.
- He maintained a personal album called the Jahangirnama, which included detailed observations of flora and fauna.
Ustad Mansoor and Scientific Documentation:
- His detailed illustrations of various species are considered some of the earliest attempts at scientific documentation through art.
- His works are highly valued for their contribution to both art and natural history.
Famous Works by Ustad Mansoor:
- Paintings of the Dodo and Siberian Crane are among his most notable works.
- These paintings serve as historical evidence of species that were either rare or extinct.