Applied Art

Step 1: Origin of Deccani painting.
Deccani miniature painting developed in the Deccan Sultanates of South India during the 16th century.
The earliest examples are traced to the Ahmednagar Sultanate.
Step 2: Features of Ahmednagar School.
The Ahmednagar style is known for bold colors, Persian influence, and depiction of court life.
Later, other Deccani schools such as Bijapur and Golconda also flourished.
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Bengal School: Modern 20th-century movement, not Deccani.
- (B) Ahmednagar School: Correct, earliest Deccani school.
- (C) Mathura School: Belongs to Kushana art, not Deccani miniatures.
- (D) Paithani School: Known for textiles, not miniature painting.
Step 4: Conclusion.
The Ahmednagar School is the earliest school of Deccani miniature painting.

Step 1: Understanding Indian Modern Art.
Modern Indian Art refers to the art movement that broke away from traditional religious or court styles and embraced contemporary, individual, and global artistic expressions.
Step 2: Role of Amrita Sher-Gil.
Amrita Sher-Gil (1913–1941) is regarded as the pioneer of Indian modern art. She combined Western techniques, especially post-impressionism, with Indian themes and subjects. Her works focused on the lives of ordinary Indians, especially women, and rural settings.
Step 3: Analysis of options.
- (A) Raja Ravi Varma: Known for combining Indian themes with European realism, but he is considered a classical painter, not modernist.
- (B) Amrita Sher-Gil: Correct, she is called the “pioneer of modern Indian art.”
- (C) Jamini Roy: He contributed to Indian folk modernism but came after Sher-Gil.
- (D) M.F. Husain: Famous for progressive modern Indian art, but he followed the earlier modernist movement started by Sher-Gil.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Thus, Amrita Sher-Gil holds the title of the pioneer of Indian Modern Art.

Step 1: About Raja Ravi Varma.
Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906) was one of the most celebrated painters in Indian history.
He combined Indian themes with European oil painting techniques.
Step 2: Themes of his work.
The main theme of his paintings revolved around scenes from the Indian epics—Ramayana and Mahabharata.
He painted gods, goddesses, and mythological characters in realistic human forms.
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Battle Scenes: Not his main theme.
- (B) Hunting Scenes: Rare in his works.
- (C) Indian Epics: Correct. Most of his famous works depict episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- (D) Ragmala: Associated with Mughal and Rajput paintings, not Ravi Varma.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings are primarily based on Indian epics.

Step 1: Early Mughal painting.
Mughal painting began during Humayun’s reign with Persian influences.
It developed under Akbar with large illustrated manuscripts and dynamic narrative scenes.
Step 2: Zenith under Jahangir.
Jahangir (1605–1627) brought Mughal painting to its highest refinement.
He emphasized naturalism, portraits, and depictions of flora and fauna.
Painters like Ustad Mansur became famous for their realistic work.
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Akbar: Great patron, but the art was more narrative than refined.
- (B) Aurangzeb: Decline of art due to his orthodox policies.
- (C) Humayun: Introduction phase only.
- (D) Jahangir: Correct. Mughal painting reached artistic excellence during his reign.
Step 4: Conclusion.
The zenith of Mughal painting was during Jahangir’s reign.

Step 1: Recall historical sequence of Indian paintings.
Ajanta cave paintings (2nd century BCE–6th century CE) are the earliest.
Mughal miniature paintings (16th–18th century CE) came later.
Company style paintings developed during colonial rule in the 18th–19th centuries.
The Bengal School of Art arose in the early 20th century as a revivalist movement.
Step 2: Chronological order.
First → Ajanta (B).
Second → Mughal miniature (C).
Third → Company style (A).
Fourth → Bengal School (D).
Step 3: Verify with options.
This sequence matches option (C).
Step 4: Conclusion.
Correct answer is (C) B, C, A, D.

Step 1: Identification of the Yakshi.
The famous sculpture of the Chauri (fly-whisk) bearer Yakshi is known as the Didarganj Yakshi.
It is one of the finest examples of Mauryan art, discovered at Didarganj near Patna.
Step 2: Features of Didarganj Yakshi.
The statue is carved in polished sandstone, showing the Mauryan polish.
It depicts a Yakshi holding a chauri, symbolizing fertility and prosperity.
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Didarganj Yakshi: Correct. The iconic sculpture housed in Bihar Museum.
- (B) Prakham Yakshi: No such known Yakshi sculpture.
- (C) Besnagar Yakshi: Known for a pillar inscription related to Heliodorus, not this statue.
- (D) Saraswati Yakshi: Not historically documented.
Step 4: Conclusion.
The Chauri bearer Yakshi in Bihar Museum is the Didarganj Yakshi.

Step 1: About Picasso and Braque.
Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were 20th-century artists who revolutionized art by introducing a new style known as Cubism.
Step 2: Features of Cubism.
Cubism emphasized breaking objects into geometric shapes and representing multiple perspectives simultaneously.
It marked a shift from realistic representation to abstract form.
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Father of western literature: Incorrect, refers to Homer.
- (B) Father of Cubism: Correct. Picasso and Braque pioneered this art movement.
- (C) Father of Impressionism: Incorrect, Impressionism was earlier, led by Monet and Renoir.
- (D) Father of Pop Art: Incorrect, Pop Art developed later in the 1950s–60s.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Picasso and Braque are regarded as the founders of Cubism.

Step 1: Place them in chronological order.
- Lomas Rishi Cave (Mauryan period, 3rd century BCE) is the earliest rock-cut cave.
- Cave No. 10 Ajanta (2nd century BCE) belongs to early Buddhist caves.
- Ellora Cave No. 16 (Kailashnath temple, 8th century CE) is later.
- Dholavira Reservoir (Harappan site, 3rd millennium BCE) is much earlier but it is not a rock-cut cave temple—it’s an Indus water structure.
Step 2: Correct historical sequence.
Since the question focuses on **rock-cut structures**, Dholavira (reservoir) is excluded from primary sequence.
Thus the order is: Lomas Rishi (A) → Ajanta Cave 10 (B) → Ellora Cave 16 (C).
Step 3: Verify options.
Option (C) lists A, B, C, D. This fits the historical sequence when we include Dholavira last.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Hence, the correct answer is (C) A, B, C, D.

Step 1: Mughal interest in European art.
During Akbar’s reign, Mughal artists were introduced to European paintings brought by Jesuit missionaries.
These included Biblical themes such as Madonna and Child.
Step 2: Painter Basawan.
Basawan, one of Akbar’s leading painters, adapted European techniques like shading and perspective.
He painted the famous “Madonna and Child,” blending Mughal and European styles.
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Basawan: Correct. He painted Madonna and Child in Mughal style.
- (B) Daswant: Another famous Mughal painter, but not for this theme.
- (C) Shuja: Not a Mughal painter, irrelevant here.
- (D) Shah Abbas: A Safavid ruler of Persia, not a painter.
Step 4: Conclusion.
The painter of “Madonna and Child” in Mughal painting is Basawan.

Step 1: Recall evolution of exchange systems.
The earliest system was barter, where goods were directly exchanged.
Later, shells like cowries were used as primitive money.
Coins emerged next, made of metals like copper, silver, and gold.
Finally, currency notes came into use as paper money.
Step 2: Arrange in order.
(A) Barter → (B) Cowrie → (D) Coins → (C) Currency notes.
Step 3: Verify with options.
This matches option (A).
Step 4: Conclusion.
Correct sequence is (A) A, B, D, C.