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Statement I : Mughal painting reached its climax during the reign of Jahangir. Statement I : Aurangzeb's Court was adorned by some of the best known artists of the Mughal School of Painting.
Explanation
Statement I is true as Mughal painting reached its zenith or climax during the reign of Jahangir [2]. Jahangir was a great connoisseur of art who possessed a discriminating eye, leading to significant advancements in portraiture, naturalism, and the depiction of flora and fauna [1]. Under his patronage, the Mughal school acquired greater refinement and dignity. Conversely, Statement II is false. Aurangzeb's reign marked the decline of imperial patronage for painting due to his religious conservatism and lack of interest in the arts [3]. He is noted for forbidding art at the court, which forced many talented artists to migrate to regional courts like Lucknow, Jaipur, and the Deccan to seek new patronage [2]. Consequently, his court was not adorned by the best-known artists, as the imperial atelier was largely disbanded during his rule.
Sources
- [1] https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/lefa103.pdf
- [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Paintings > p. 218
- [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughal_painting