Indian Miniatures from Malwa

Indian Miniature and Wall paintings from Malwa

Unlike the painting traditions of Hills and Rajasthan where the painting traditions are known by the name of kingdoms and Thikanas like Kangda, Noorpur, Kishangarha and Devgarha, the painting tradition of Malwa bears a single nomenclature "Malwa". Malwa is a Central Indian Region where the painting traditions flourished in different places right from the pre-Mughal times. Mandu was the main center in the early era of pre-Mughal times where "Kalpsutra" was painted in 1439 A.D. This was also the painting period of "Niyamatnama". The painting tradition of Malwa influenced the painting tradition of Mewar. Now the recent researches prove that Eastern as well as Western parts of Malwa were having their own painting traditions. The Eastern part of Malwa comprises the painting traditions of Narsinghgarha, Chanderi, Raghogarha and Bajrang Garha. The western part comprises, Dewas, Ujjain, Indore, Ratlam, Mandsaur and Jawad. There are small places by Mandu, Seetamau and Pipliya Rao where the painting traditions flourished under the patronage of their rulers.