Introduction to Indian Miniature Art

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The tradition of painting in India is as old as Rigveda. We have clear evidences of this tradition in this great epic. The Ancient Indian compositions right from Rigveda to the works of Kalidasa are full of the narrations regarding painting. We have Vishnudharmottarpurana, which is a pioneer ancient Indian text of this area. There are several books in different languages, which give ample information regarding this unique tradition. The book of Mr. Narmada Prasad Upadhyaya, which has been recently published in Hindi under the title 'Bhartiya Chitrankan Parampara' gives the complete information in respect of this glorious Indian tradition.

The basic and foremost feature of this unique style of art is an exhaustive detailing of each and every component relating to the scene. There are different themes, which have become the base for the flight of the imagination of artist. These themes are traditional and have come out from the great compositions like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Meghdootam, Geetgovindam, Kavipriya, Rasikpriya and several others alike in the earlier centuries of our cultural history. These themes have also emerged from the compositios of the great poets like Sur, Keshav, Bihari, Matiram, Dev and Puhukar who wrote great poems like Sursagar, Bihari Satsai, Rasraj, Ashtayam and Rasbeli. There are several themes of different nature and attitude. They centered on the love stories, Nayak-Nayika Bhed and mostly the Leela of Radha and Krishna.

The tradition of wall paintings in India is very rich and colorful. This tradition touched its zenith in Ajanta and the line of Ajanta never collapsed. It transformed and got its fine assimilation in the Mughal period. The painting tradition of Iran merged with the Indian tradition and wrote a unique chapter in the history of Indian art. The Mughal kalam touched its zenith during the reign of Jahangir.

After the fall of Mughal Empire the artists went in the desert and in the hills. Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh became the shelter for them and we see the superb, unique, colorful and eternal skill of Indian artist in the different styles flourished in different time frames in Rajasthan and in Himachal Pradesh. Even in the small Riyasats and Thikanas, the ateliers were established and the concerning kings played a role of patron of this great cultural heritage. The small Thikana of Isarda of Rajasthan and a very small state of Nahan of Himachal Pradesh represented this rich Indian heritage. The prominent styles flourished in Rajasthan during medieval and later medieval period were Mewar, Devgarh, Shahpura, Nathdwara, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kishangarh, Jaisalmer, Bundi, Kota, Amber, Alwar and Jaipur etc. In the hills, the styles, which developed in their full bloom, were Kangra, Basohali, Guler, Mandi, Chamba, Garhwal, Bilaspur, Nurpur, Jammu and Kullu etc.

Apart from the above, the painting tradition also flourished in Malwa, Vidarbh and Bengal. In every part of the country this painting tradition flourished and was nourished by the kings and emperors on one end and on the other the contemporary society itself played a great role in making it popular.

Dr. Anand Coomarswamy was the pioneer in this field of Indian art. He first studied systematically the paintings of different styles and published his monumental volumes under the title "Rajput Painting" in 1916. Since than the study of these paintings started by the eastern and western scholars but this study centered on the paintings executed in the royal ateliers. The themes of the great epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata and the themes of great compositions like Geet Govinda and Kavipriya also became the matter of depiction by the artists of the contemporary society. These artists did not get any patronage but they devoted their lives for this great art and enriched our great heritage. Likewise, the areas of Malwa, Vidarbh and Bundelkhand remained mostly unstudied. The small riyasats like Raghogarh were responsible for the nice depictions but no serious effort was made to study the paintings of this type of small state.

Here you will find an effort to display the paintings, which are still waiting for their proper provenance and recognition.

Different Schools of Art in Indian Miniature

Below listed are the different Schools, Styles and Sub-styles from different periods and geographical locations of India in context of Indian Miniature paintings.

- Ajanta

The unique murals painted mostly on Buddhist themes. The earliest surviving examples of Indian paintings. The wall paintings of Ajanta Caves belong to 2nd Century BC to 6th century AD.

- Bagh

Situated in Madhya Pradesh. The murals of Bagh caves followed Ajanta tradition in 7th Century.

- Pal

One of the earliest styles in which mainly Buddhist texts were illustrated between 8th to 11th Century

- South Indian Style

The style flourished between 10th to 13th Century in South.

- Vijaynagar

Flourished in 14th Century in South, particularly in the period of Krishna Dev Rai.

- Tanjavur

Flourished between 9th to 13th Century during the reign of Cholas.

- Deccani Style

An independent style having Persian influence flourished in Deccan. Golkunda, Bijapur, Hyderbad & Ahmednagar.

- Beejapur

A Deccani style having lavish use of colors and fine draughtmanship

- Golconda

The style of Deccan having fine expressions of Mughal assimilation.

- Hydrabad

The style of Deccan, flourished in late period, having variety of subjects.

- Sultanate

The style developed between 1451 to 1526, particularly during the period of Lodhis.

- Mughal Style

The style having Persian influence, flourished and developed during Akbar's Period and touched its culmination during Jahangir.

- Apbhransha

The early style prior to Mughals developed in Gujarat.

- Mandu

The Style flourished during 15th Century during the period of Gayas Khilzi, dominated by Persian influence.

- Chaurpanchashika

The early style prior to Mughals, responsible for the paintings of Champawati and Bilhan.

- Western Gujrat

The style prior to Mughals in which mainly Jain texts were illustrated.

- Imperial Mughal

The painting style flourished when the Mughals were dominating.

- Sub-imperial Mughal

The style having regional and Akbari influence.

- Popular Mughal

- Provincial Mughal

- Bazar Mughal

The late paintings of Mughal Period, mainly for sale.

- Avadh

Provincial Mughal

- Murshidabad

Provincial Mughal

- Eastern School

The painting of eastern India.

- Mewar Style

Old painting style of Rajasthan.

- Udaipur

Painting style of Mewar

- Chavand

Painting style of Mewar famous for old Ragamala paintings.

- Nathdwara

Late style of Mewar focused on Shrinathji.

- Devgarha

Thikana style of Mewar.

- Marwar Style

Style of fine paintings of Marwar region.

- Jodhpur

Style of Marwar region famous for Nath influance

- Bikaner

Style of Marwar region, famous for Turbons.

- Kishangarha

World fame style of Marwar region famous for Bani-Thani

- Hadoti Style

Old Style of Rajasthan.

- Bundi

Famous style of Hadoti region.

- Kota

Famous style of Hadoti region for hunting scenes.

- Jhalawad

Assimilated style of Kota and Bundi

- Dhundhar stye

Colorful style of Rajasthan.

- Amber

Early Jaipur style.

- Jaipur

Famous style of Dhundhar region.

- Alwar

Colourful style of Dhundhar region

- Uniyara

Thikana style of Dhundhar region.

- Pahari Style

Style flourished in Himachal Pradesh.

- Kangra

World fame style for Krishna Leela depiction

- Guler

Colorful style of Pahari region, influenced with Kangra

- Mandi

Colorful style of Pahari region, influenced with Kangra

- Chamba

Colorful style of Pahari region, influenced with Kangra

- Noorpur

Colorful style of Pahari region, influenced with Kangra

- Bahu

Sub style of Pahar

- Hindur

Famous style for the depiction of Shakuntalam of Kalidasa

- Garhawal

Famous style of great artist Molaram.

- Basohali

Exceptionally fine, world fame style of Pahar.

- Sikh

The Style of Sikh Kingdoms of Punjab.

- Bengal Style

The style of West-Bengal

- Kalighat

The style of Devi paintings of Bengal.

- Kutch

The style of Kutch region.

- Banaras

Late style of Company style influance.

- Company

The style flourished during company period.

- Thakur

The Great style of Bengal having company influence



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