In which ruler period the book- "Tutinama" was painted ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3: Akbar

The "Tutinama" (Tales of a Parrot) manuscript was painted during the early years of the reign of Emperor Akbar (1556-1605), specifically between approximately 1560 and 1565 CE. This commission was a foundational project for the nascent Mughal imperial painting atelier, or *karkhana*. After consolidating his power, Akbar established this workshop and hired over a hundred artists, primarily from various Indian schools, alongside the Persian masters his father had brought. The *Tutinama* was instrumental in training these diverse artists, blending the refined Persian miniaturist tradition with the vibrant color palettes, emotional narratives, and vigorous action characteristic of indigenous Indian styles. This project required a massive, collaborative effort and is recognized as the first major illustrated manuscript of the Mughal School, thus marking the true beginning of the distinctive Mughal painting style.

The incorrect option is 1: Babur
Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire (reigned 1526–1530), was a military adventurer who conquered northern India and was certainly interested in art, poetry, and nature, which is evident in his memoirs, the *Baburnama*. However, his brief and turbulent reign in India was dominated by military campaigns and the consolidation of his new kingdom, leaving little time or stability to establish a formal, large-scale imperial art workshop like the one required to produce the *Tutinama* manuscript. The painting of the *Tutinama* occurred decades after his death.

The incorrect option is 2: Humayun
Humayun (reigned 1530–1540 and 1555–1556) played a crucial role by inviting two master Persian painters, Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad, back to India upon his return from exile. These artists laid the theoretical groundwork and established the basis for the imperial atelier. However, Humayun died shortly after regaining his throne, and the actual execution of the monumental *Tutinama* manuscript was commissioned and completed under the patronage of his son, Akbar, who possessed the political stability and vision to fully fund and staff the grand *karkhana*.

The incorrect option is 4: Shahjahan
Shahjahan's reign (1628–1658) represents the later, classic period of Mughal art and architecture. This era is famous for its emphasis on architectural wonders, such as the Taj Mahal, and for a painting style that favored extreme refinement, naturalistic portraiture, and highly formal court scenes, often focusing on his own royal person. The *Tutinama*, with its bold, somewhat angular figures and dynamic, transitional style, belongs to the vibrant, experimental phase of Mughal painting that was nearly a century earlier than Shahjahan's period.