Question

Assertion (A): The painting “Chand Bibi Playing Polo” depicts women mounted on beautifully decorated horses of different colours.
Reason (R): The different bright colours are due to the use of ‘oil on canvas’ as a medium for this painting.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false and (R) is true.

Hint:

Miniature paintings use natural pigments, not oil paints. Bright colours are achieved by traditional techniques, not modern mediums.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The assertion is correct. The painting “Chand Bibi Playing Polo” indeed depicts royal women engaged in the sport of polo, elegantly mounted on vividly decorated horses. This scene is a fine example of Indo-Islamic courtly culture and feminine valor. However, the reason provided is incorrect. The painting is not done in oil on canvas; instead, it is a miniature painting executed using natural pigments and colours on surfaces like paper or cloth. Traditional Indian miniature paintings did not use oil paints—rather, they relied on fine brushes and water-based colours made from minerals, plants, and precious stones.

• The brilliance of colour in such works is due to the refined use of natural pigments, not oil paints.
• The artwork belongs to the Deccan or Mughal miniature style, where detailing and colour layering were key techniques.

Explanation of Options:

• (A) Incorrect — (R) is factually wrong.
• (B) Incorrect — Though both statements are not fully true, they are not logically linked.
• (C) Correct — Assertion is true; Reason is false.
• (D) Incorrect — Assertion is true, not false.