The Mughal miniature paintings of seventeenth-century India are sometimes treated as primarily decorative court art. Art historian Najwa Imam complicates that view, noting that many miniatures functioned as administrative records, scientific illustrations, and political portraits. The decorative reading, she suggests, says more about later European reception than about the paintings' original purposes.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
- A
European reception of Indian art has been respectful.
- Bcheck_circle
Mughal miniatures served varied functional roles, and the 'decorative' label reflects later European reception more than original use.
- C
Court art is rarely scientific.
- D
Mughal miniatures are purely decorative.
Explanation
The passage corrects the decorative reading and explains where it came from — B. A is the view being revised; C contradicts the text; D is unsupported.