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Which of the following statements about visual culture in 18th and early 19th century North India is/are correct ? 1. Painters from Patna and Murshidabad flocked to Calcutta and produced water colours in the English mode. 2. Landscape and portraiture became extremely important at this time. 3. The artists Zayan-al-Din, Bhawani Das and Ram Das were adopted by the English East India Company to produce albums of Indian birds and animals. 4. While Indians were influenced by European artistic styles, European artists did not visit regional courts. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Explanation
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, visual culture in North India was dominated by the 'Company School'. Painters from traditional centers like Patna and Murshidabad migrated to Calcutta, adopting European techniques such as watercolor on paper and linear perspective [1]. This period saw a significant shift toward landscape and portraiture, driven by British demand for souvenirs and documentation of Indian life [1]. Specifically, artists like Shaikh Zayn-al-Din, Bhawani Das, and Ram Das (originally from Patna) were commissioned by patrons like Lady Impey in Calcutta to produce highly detailed natural history albums featuring Indian flora and fauna. While Indian artists were heavily influenced by Western realism, the fourth statement is incorrect because numerous European artists, such as the Daniells and Zoffany, actively visited and worked in regional Indian courts, influencing local styles while documenting the landscape [1].
Sources
- [1] https://cec.nic.in/webpath/curriculum/Module/FART/Paper37/1/downloads/script.pdf