In which style the illustrated manuscripts were painted ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
The Apabhransh style, also known as the Western Indian School of Painting or Jain School of Art, is fundamentally defined by its extensive production of illustrated manuscripts between the 11th and 15th centuries. This school flourished primarily in Gujarat and Rajasthan, illustrating Jain canonical texts like the *Kalpasutra* and *Kalakacharya Katha*, initially on palm leaves (Tadapatra) and later transitioning to paper from the 12th century onwards. The very purpose of this style was often religious and didactic, with the "shaastradaan" (donation of books) of illustrated manuscripts being a noble act of charity. Its distinctive features, such as the use of brilliant primary colors, angular lines, and figures with bulging 'fish-shaped' eyes, are characteristic of the small-format manuscript page.

The incorrect option is 2:
The Pahari school of painting, which developed in the Punjab Hill states, emerged much later, primarily from the late 17th century, though its early form is Basohli. While it did produce magnificent illustrated manuscripts, particularly on themes like the *Gita Govinda* and *Bhagavata Purana*, the *Pahari* style as a whole is chronologically later than the foundational *Apabhransh* tradition. Its characteristic lyrical and realistic features were a stylistic evolution influenced by the Mughal style, distinguishing it from the earlier, more iconic manuscript-based art of the Apabhransh school.

The incorrect option is 3:
Mughal painting, beginning in the mid-16th century with the establishment of imperial ateliers, certainly produced some of the most famous and intricate illustrated manuscripts, such as the *Hamzanama* and *Akbarnama*. However, the Mughal style was a deliberate synthesis of Persian and indigenous Indian traditions. The indigenous tradition that existed *before* the Mughals and was devoted almost entirely to manuscript illustration was the Apabhransh/Western Indian style. The Mughal style is known more for its naturalism, portraiture, and court scenes, moving beyond the religious and linear constraints of the earlier manuscript tradition.

The incorrect option is 4:
The Deccan school of painting, which flourished in the Deccan Sultanates (e.g., Bijapur, Golconda) from the mid-16th century, also created illustrated manuscripts. However, its development, like the Mughal and Pahari schools, came after the Apabhransh tradition had already established the indigenous practice of miniature manuscript painting in Western India. Deccan painting is recognized for its vibrant color palette, distinct sense of fantasy, and influences from Persian, Turkish, and European art, making it a regional variant that evolved later, rather than the primary, foundational style of early illustrated Indian manuscripts.