Schools of Painting and Handicrafts: RAS Prelims MCQs
109 RAS Prelims MCQs on the schools of painting and handicrafts of Rajasthan ask for the features, patrons and artists of each school. Mewar, Marwar, Bundi, Kota, Bikaner, Amber-Jaipur and Alwar are asked alongside crafts such as Pichhwai, Usta art and Bandhani, so learn each school with its signature subject and the ruler who supported it.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 109 questions
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q11. Consider the following statements about the Mewar School of Painting: I. Kadamba tree and elephants are frequently depicted as background elements. II. The school reached its zenith during the reign of Maharana Pratap. III. Sahibdin and Manohar were prominent painters associated with this school. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Mewar paintings often show the Kadamba tree and elephants, and Sahibdin and Manohar were leading painters of the school. The school reached its peak under Jagat Singh I, not Maharana Pratap, so II is wrong.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q12. In the context of the Nathdwara sub-school, what does the term ‘Pichhwai’ refer to?
Explanation
Pichhwai are cloth paintings hung behind the idol of Shrinathji in the Nathdwara temple. They show the divine life of Krishna and are changed with the festival and the season.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q13. Identify the correct pair of a painter and the text he illustrated under the Mewar school.
Explanation
Sahibdin illustrated the Rasikpriya in the Mewar school. Nisaruddin painted the Chawand Ragamala, so the other pairs are mismatched.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q14. Consider the following developments in the Mewar School of Painting: I. Painting of the Chawand Ragamala by Nisaruddin II. Golden period under Maharana Jagat Singh I III. Painting of Shravak Pratikraman Sutra Churni IV. Emergence of Nathdwara Pichhwais Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of these developments?
Explanation
The Shravak Pratikraman Sutra Churni was painted in 1260, the Chawand Ragamala by Nisaruddin in 1605, the golden period came under Jagat Singh I and the Nathdwara Pichhwais came later. The order is III, I, II, IV.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q15. Which specific natural element is most characteristically depicted to symbolize clouds in the classic Mewar style of painting?
Explanation
In classic Mewar painting, clouds are shown with thick blue borders that look like a coiled snake. The Mewar school also uses rich yellow and red colours.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q16. The distinct feature of depicting clouds bordered with gold and the abundant use of yellow color is most closely associated with which school of painting?
Explanation
Clouds bordered with gold and the abundant use of yellow are typical of the Jodhpur (Marwar) school of painting.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q17. Consider the following statements about the Marwar (Jodhpur) School of Painting: I. It experienced significant development under Rao Maldev. II. The depiction of the love story of Dhola- Maru is a recurring and famous theme. III. During the reign of Maharaja Man Singh, the Nath sect heavily influenced the themes. IV. The school completely rejected Mughal influence throughout its history. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Marwar School flourished significantly under Rao Maldev and frequently featured the legendary love story of Dhola-Maru as a recurring theme. Later, during the reign of Maharaja Man Singh, the school was heavily influenced by the Nath sect, leading to the creation of many paintings focused on asceticism and yogic themes. Contrary to isolationist claims, the school did incorporate some Mughal stylistic refinements.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q18. The ‘Usta Art’, which involves intricate miniature painting on camel hide, is a hallmark of which sub-school of Marwar?
Explanation
Usta Art is a specialized and highly intricate form of miniature painting practiced on camel hide, which is a hallmark of the Bikaner sub-school. This unique craft involves layering gold and vibrant colors to create delicate patterns and motifs. The Usta community, originally brought to Bikaner from the Mughal courts, successfully adapted their skills to create a distinct and celebrated regional art form.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q19. Which of the following families/communities in Bikaner were primarily known for making frescoes and miniature paintings reflecting strong Hindu religious themes despite having Mughal artistic origins?
Explanation
The Mathern community in Bikaner consists of traditional artists who are renowned for creating frescoes and miniature paintings with strong Hindu religious themes. Despite having artistic origins linked to the Mughal style, they focused on local subjects, including portraits and mythological narratives. Their work contributed to the unique synthesis found in Bikaner art, where professional technical skill was applied to regional spiritual and cultural motifs.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Q20. Match the artists in List I with the schools of painting in List II and select the correct answer from the options given.
Artist
School of Painting
A. Ali Raza
i. Chawand
B. Virji
ii. Bikaner
C. Nihal Chand
iii. Jodhpur
D. Nisaruddin
iv. Kishangarh
Explanation
Various master artists are associated with specific regional schools in Rajasthan. Ali Raza is a prominent figure in the Bikaner school, while Virji is known for his work in Jodhpur. Nihal Chand is the legendary artist of the Kishangarh school, famous for the iconic Bani Thani. Lastly, Nisaruddin is celebrated for his foundational contributions to the early Chawand style within the Mewar tradition.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
11
(b) I and III only
12
(c) Cloth paintings hung behind Shrinathji depicting the divine life of Krishna
13
(d) Sahibdin - Rasikpriya
14
(a) III, I, II, IV
15
(b) Thick blue borders with a coiled snake-like appearance
16
(b) Jodhpur School
17
(a) I, II, and III
18
(c) Bikaner
19
(d) Mathern community
20
(c) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i
Key facts from Schools of Painting and Handicrafts
Anand Coomaraswamy coined the term Rajput Painting in 1916.
The earliest dated miniature of Rajasthan is the Shravak Pratikraman Sutra Churni, painted by Kamalchandra.
Supasanah Chariyam, painted in 1423, is a landmark manuscript.
The Bundi school is famed for nature, rain, clouds and lush vegetation; the Kota school for hunting scenes.
Usta art, painting on camel hide, belongs to the Bikaner school, whose golden age came under Maharaja Anup Singh.
The Alwar school is known for paintings on ivory plates, and Pichhwai are cloth paintings of the Nathdwara school.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Schools of Painting and Handicrafts?
This page has 109 practice MCQs on Schools of Painting and Handicrafts (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who coined the term Rajput Painting?
Anand Coomaraswamy, in his 1916 publication on the subject. He used the term to distinguish the paintings of the Rajput courts of Rajasthan and the hills from Mughal painting, and the name has stayed in use since.
What are Pichhwai paintings?
Pichhwai are cloth paintings hung behind the idol of Shrinathji at Nathdwara, showing scenes from the divine life of Krishna. They belong to the Nathdwara sub-school of Mewar painting and are made for different festivals and seasons.
Which Rajasthan painting school is known for hunting scenes?
The Kota school, which is remembered for its dynamic and extensive portrayal of hunting scenes. Its paintings show rulers hunting in forests and hills, set in lively landscapes with animals in motion.
