The illustrated copy of Shahnama of the late sixteenth century Mughal school was prepared at the library of which of the following Prince/noble?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (D) Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan

Explanation:
• Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, one of the 'Navaratnas' in Akbar’s court, was a great patron of art and literature. He maintained a personal library and an atelier (karkhana) that rivaled the imperial Mughal library.
• The illustrated manuscript of Firdausi’s 'Shahnama' (Book of Kings) was produced in his establishment during the late 16th century (circa 1580–1590).
• This manuscript is famous for its high-quality miniature paintings which show a blend of Persian influence and the evolving Mughal style.
• Rahim was himself a polyglot and a poet, writing in Persian, Arabic, Turki, Sanskrit, and Hindi (Brij Bhasha). His patronage extended to several other works like the 'Ramayana' and 'Khamsa-i-Nizami'.

Information Booster:
• Abdul Rahim was the son of Bairam Khan, Akbar’s mentor.
• He is famously known for his Hindi couplets (dohe) written under the pen name 'Rahim'.

Additional Knowledge:
• Prince Murad (Option A): Akbar’s second son; while he was involved in military campaigns in the Deccan, he is not primarily associated with this specific Shahnama manuscript.
• Prince Khurram (Option B): Later known as Shah Jahan, his patronage reached its peak in the mid-17th century, focusing more on architecture and grand histories like the Padshahnama.
• Asaf Khan (Option C): A powerful noble and father of Mumtaz Mahal, but his cultural contributions were mostly political and architectural during Jahangir and Shah Jahan's reigns.