The correct answer is: D. Akbar
Akbar was the third Mughal emperor, who ruled from 1556 to 1605. He was a great patron of the arts and sciences, and under his rule, Mughal painting reached its zenith. One of the most distinctive features of Mughal painting is the use of halos or divine lights around the heads of holy figures. This practice was started during Akbar’s reign, and it became a standard feature of Mughal painting thereafter.
The use of halos in Mughal painting is thought to have been inspired by Persian art. In Persian painting, halos were used to represent the divine light that emanated from holy figures. Akbar was a great admirer of Persian art, and he brought many Persian artists to his court. These artists introduced Akbar to the use of halos, and he adopted the practice for his own paintings.
The use of halos in Mughal painting served a number of purposes. First, it served to identify the holy figures in the paintings. In many cases, the figures are not shown in their full glory, and the halos help to distinguish them from the other figures in the painting. Second, the halos serve to emphasize the divinity of the holy figures. In Mughal painting, the holy figures are often shown in a state of transcendence, and the halos help to convey this sense of divinity. Finally, the halos serve to add beauty and visual interest to the paintings. The halos are often decorated with intricate patterns and designs, and they add a touch of luxury to the paintings.
The use of halos in Mughal painting is a distinctive feature of this style of art. It is a practice that was started during Akbar’s reign, and it became a standard feature of Mughal painting thereafter. The use of halos served a number of purposes, including identifying the holy figures, emphasizing their divinity, and adding beauty and visual interest to the paintings.