Jhumaklal, Fakirchand, Sevakram are artists of:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
Jhumaklal, Fakirchand, and Sevakram are recognized masters of the Company Style, also widely known as the Patna Qalam or Company School, which flourished primarily in Bihar and West Bengal during the late 18th and 19th centuries. This art style emerged directly from the patronage of the British East India Company officials who sought documentary paintings of Indian life, festivals, costumes, and flora/fauna for European audiences. The paintings, often executed on mica or European paper, represent a crucial transitional phase where the fine techniques of the Mughal and regional schools were adapted to the tastes and materials preferred by the British patrons. Sevakram, in particular, is famed for his detailed studies of festivals and ceremonies, epitomizing the hybrid naturalism and topographical documentation that defines the Company Style.

The incorrect option is 1:
The Kangra Style is a major school of the Pahari miniature painting that reached its artistic peak in the 18th century, primarily focusing on themes of divine love, such as the *Gita Govinda* and *Krishna-leela*. This style is renowned for its lyrical quality, delicate draftsmanship, and soft, naturalistic color palette. Its artists, such as Nainsukh and Manaku, were distinct in their technique and patronage, operating under the Rajput rulers of the Punjab Hill States, far removed from the British commercial patronage that fostered the Company Style in the plains.

The incorrect option is 2:
The Mughal Style of painting, which was established and patronized by the Mughal Emperors like Akbar and Jahangir (16th-17th centuries), focused heavily on opulent court chronicles, formal portraiture (*shabih*), and detailed book illustrations. While the Company Style evolved partly from the declining Mughal tradition, its artists, like Jhumaklal and Fakirchand, belong to a much later period (19th century) and operated outside the imperial court framework, adopting a different subject matter and realistic, almost photographic approach favored by the British.

The incorrect option is 4:
The Deccan Style refers to the miniature painting schools that developed in the Deccan Sultanates—Bijapur, Golconda, and Ahmednagar—primarily between the 16th and 18th centuries. This style is characterized by a distinctive palette, a feeling of extravagant fantasy, and a blend of Persian, Turkish, and local artistic influences. Their subject matter often included ragamalas, royal processions, and poetical themes. The geographical location, artistic temperament, and historical context of the Deccan schools are entirely separate from the Patna-based Company artists.