The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the

The correct answer is D) Kishangarh school. Bani Thani is the best-known work of the Kishangarh school of Rajasthani painting, made around the 1750s–60s by the artist Nihal Chand at the court of Raja Sawant Singh, the poet-king who wrote under the name Nagari Das. The painting shows a woman with an elongated face, long neck, and arched brows, the features most associated with Kishangarh style.

• Bundi school (A): Known for lush landscapes, hunting scenes and the Ragamala series, with a strong sense of nature. Bani Thani is not from here.
• Jaipur school (B): Known for portraiture, court scenes and fine detailing under the Amber-Jaipur patronage. Its style differs from the Kishangarh face type.
• Kangra school (C): A Pahari school, known for soft, lyrical treatment of Radha-Krishna themes, and it developed in the hills, not in Rajputana.

Core concept: Rajput and Pahari schools are classified by place of patronage and regional style. This links to Mains GS-I on Indian art and culture, where patronage shapes style.

Trap: Aspirants pick Kangra or Jaipur because the painting looks like a courtly portrait, or because Pahari miniatures are more widely studied. Remember Bani Thani with Kishangarh and Nihal Chand.