Miniature Painting

Content is one of the most significant part of the art of painting, while sublimation of that content through fine artwork is of paramount importance. A class of painting in India- labeled as ‘Miniature Painting’ is an important chapter in the history of painting. Artists, art lovers and critiques of art from all over the globe are still searching and analyzing the technique, flavor, and finesse of miniature painting.

This genre of paintings always brought fame to India. They are so deftly painted with exclusive detailing and delicacy that it always was at the focal point of the people involved in art and critiques of it, anywhere in the world and still attracting similar attention. Such were the finesse of creations that at times, magnifying glass was used to observe the finer details of the artworks­­. A close observation unfolds before the mesmerized eyes of the viewer the level of skill of artist as well as that of the artworks. This level of skillful creation made it a subject for prolonged discussion. Indian miniature painting, a history spanning more than thousand years. Believed to have originated in India around 750AD during the rule of `Pal Dynasty’ who ruled over the eastern part of India. `Chalukya Dynasty’ started patronizing this form of painting during their period of rule, around 960AD. Subject of this period primarily was paintings depicting deities and religion. As the Mughals started their rule over India, they also took interest in miniature painting, and this form of art took a new turn in India. Akbar, without a formal education, apparently was interested in this form of art in order to describe his version of history, displaying prowess of the monarch and depiction of social life during that era, because, other than the beauty of the painting, it is the easiest method to create, send and preserve messages, while restoration and interpretation of information can be done at later point in time. Thus, another form of miniature painting known to be as ‘Mughal Miniature’ evolved. These paintings were developed at the court of the Mughal rulers - side by side Persian and European paintings and artists from these schools, arrived India via the usual channels had a fair share in creating Mughal Miniature, while travelers from abroad with artistic skills also added to this miniature art at times.

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1309 | Hunters

Tempera | Rajput School | 15.2 X 25.4 cms

A very interesting depiction in display of a hunting scene where tribal hunters are seen in their costumes made of leaves, the chief - possibly the tribal King, shown in blue skin tone and his companion hunters at the back holding the torch and each one is holding their respective kill such as fish, duck or rabbit. The entire depiction of nature and it's human elements in their posture, color, hue and ambience is remarkable.

1310 | Padeshakh Raga

Ragamala; Tempera | Rajput School | 13.5 X 22.2 cms

Ragamala paintings were a part of most schools of Indian paintings, literally meaning the 'Garland of Ragas of the classical music' which visually depicted the artists of Indian miniature schools. In these paintings, Ragas, their wives or Raginis and their sons (Ragaputras) and Daughters (Ragaputris) were thematically used. This painting represents the Padeshakh Raga.

1311 | Rajput Prince

Tempera, Rajput Schools |13.5 X 20.5 cms

The painting depicts the portrait of a Rajput Prince, armed and with his confidant. The Prince can be identified from his royal attire and posture. The palace walls , floors and surroundings can be seen in bright color, ornamented and painted in detail providing informations regarding not only the painting but to the bigger scenerio of the strata and society to the viewers. The ornamented crown, colorful and decorated clothings clearly defines the status of the characters within painting to be understood easily by the onlooker.

1312 | Prince With Three Ladies

Tempera on silk, Rajput Schools | 16.5 X 24 cms

The painting shows a royal Prince in joyful mood enjoying moments with his three lady attendants. The palace, its walls , the top dome, the designer tiles on the floor, surrounding tree, the fountain is exquisitely depicted. The Prince can be seen distinctly portrayed by the Axe he is holding, fine fabric he is wearing and his head turban. Beautiful eyes of each human figure in the painting is also the hallmark of the Rajput Miniature.

1313 | Princess in The Garden

Tempera | Rajput Schools | 15.5 X 25.6 CMs

The painting shows the royal Princess in the Garden along with her attendants in jovial mood. A bouquet of flowers in her hand. One of the female companion is shown in the painting- blowing air on the royal lady while the other companions are cheering her up. The garden has its own beauty with flowers of different varieties, green grass all around and these beautiful women with their beautiful physical features and attire, which are absolutely colorful and representative of the place and time, bearing the stamp of Rajput Miniature.

1314 | Dancer

Tempera | Rajput Schools | 15.5 X 22.8 cms

A display of a dance and musical performance in the royal court where a male dancer is performing standing on a podium at the centre and the fellow musicians playing their instruments sitting around the stage. One of them is clapping in appraisal of the dance. Here too, the body features, eyes, hands and legs, fingers , dresses and turbans all are exquisitely drawn bearing the mark of Rajput paintings.

1315 | Lady Musician In A Garden

Tempera | Rajput Schools | 15 X 23.5 cms

The painting is the depiction of a lady musician of a royal dynasty performing in the garden with her female companions in natural ambience where deers can be seen as their playmates and also the animals are carefully looked after by these ladies. Remarkable details are found within, sharp lines with natural and bright colors are feature of this painting which is soothing to the eyes. Widespread floral display making the painting beautiful. The musicians instruments are representative to the era.

1316 | Raga Gambhira

Tempera | Rajput School | 6.5 X 26.3 cms

Ragamala painting were part of most schools of Indian paintings, literally meaning the 'Garland made of Ragas of the classical music' which became the standard medium of visualization for these arts in Indian miniature schools. Here, not only Ragas, wives of Ragas- the Raginis and offsprings -Ragaputra and Ragaputris were also used as themes.  This painting shows an interesting depiction of the Raga Gambhira. The lead musician is sitting on the hybrid form of an elephant and a fish, while the mesmerised audience is enjoying the music, the atmosphere and praising the tune.

1317 | Lord Vishnu On Garuda

Tempera | Rajput Schools |16.5 X 25 cms

The painting shows a very interesting depiction of Bhagwan Vishnu and his Vahana (Vehicle)- Garuda. Goddess Laxmi seated on the lap of Bhagwan Vishnu. Devas are all accompanying and praising him. The Crown on Devas head bears the signature of their importance, while brilliantly colored and excuisitely decorated attires display their prominance.

1318 | A Lady Taking Pan

Tempera | Rajput Schools | 15.5 X 22.3 cms

The painting shows the Royal lady is consuming 'Paan', (a leaf consumed with spices and flavors, especially in Indian subcontinent ), while attendants surrrounding her providing services to her. One of them can be seen with a container full of paan, another with alcohol, while the third one is blowing air to her comfort. Like signature Rajput Tempera Paintings, the vivid color, sharp brush strokes and clean lines with extraordinary ornamentations define the finess of this school. The sidewise view of the body and face, beautiful eyes - all in sharp lines which has the stamp of Rajput school of art..

1319 | A Lady Consuming Pan

Tempera | Rajput School | 16 X 27.3 cms

The painting is a fine representation of the royal lady masticating 'paan' and her attendants around her praising, encouraging and assisting in doing so to lift her mood. All the figures are well decorated with the royal one with extra ornamentation, their postures describing that they are doing varied tasks. Details about the Palace and the surroundings are exact, natural, colorful and with sharp brush strokes. Physical attributes are in accordance with that of the Rajasthani School of Art.

1320 | Lord Shiva

Tempera | Rajput School | 16.5 X 20.3 cms

The painting is in depiction of Lord Shiva, distinctly marked by his hair, trident in his hand and posture of sitting. Lord Shiva is addressing a gathering of Devas and worshippers. Flowing river Ganga can also be seen with flowers floating on top of her water. The colors used depict the surrounding and that of the characters are well thought to evoke splendid reactions from viewers. The figures are all painter sidewise. The attire, jewellery, crown on head are painted with simple strokes yet with finest details, while used colors are corresponding to the theme of this spiritual painting.

1321 | Prince Drinking

Tempera | Rajput School | 15.2 X 25 cms

A Royal Prince enjoying his drinks in the company of his significant other in the majestic ambience of his palace while attendants are busy in serving them. The attire, figure, posture of the characters in the painting shows the variation, they are colorful and painted with sharp strokes. Head gears, skin color and ornamented dresses define each character according to their status.

1323 | Raga Malkaushik

Ragamala; Tempera | Rajput School |15.2 X 22.5 cms

Ragamala paintings were part of most of the schools of Indian paintings, literally meaning the 'Garland of Ragas of the classical music'. This painting depicts the Raga Malkaushik, a great musician signified with blue skin tone, shown here playing flute in creation of magical tune and heavenly entities are showering flowers on him as a mark of his great skill, from the sky. The sky and land are painted in different tone in depiction of pictorial message.

1325 | Raga Malhara

Ragamala; Tempera | 16 X 27 cms

As Ragamala paintings represented as miniature form of art within many schools of Indian paintings, it literally mean 'Garland of Ragas of the classical music'. This very painting depicts one form of it - Raga Malhar. Here it is showing the surroundings where the royal lady and her companion is enjoying the ambience of nature, in the company of music and dancing peacock, while it was drizzling outside. Remarkable here are segregation of sky, the ground and the human entities. Each are displayed in different tone of color, women and peacocks are in vivid color and finest details.

1326 | Raga Lalita

Ragamala; Tempera | 14.9 24.8 cms

Ragamala paintings were a standard part of most schools of Indian paintings, literally meaning the 'Garland of Ragas of the classical music'. This very painting depicts one of the form- Raga Lalita. The painting is displaying the royal palace, the Rana and his servant serving the royal. Finer details of the royal attire , the royal palace and it's stairs, trees surrounding the palace, the grass and the lawn mosaic with carpet, all depicted to it's finest level. The royal mood was also caught through the painting as he seems enthralled by the magical tune.

1327 | Raga Madhava

Ragamala; Tempera | 15.2 X 23.5 cms

Ragamala paintings were a part of most schools of Indian miniature painting, literally meaning the 'Garland of Ragas of the classical music'. This very painting depicts one form of it - Raga Madhava, representing the season spring. The King or Rana is with his female companion, probably the queen, and playing flute from the terrace of his palace. Nature is in it's full flow, intricate details are painted in bright yet natural colors with sharp brush strokes. Body features of the royals are true to their status.

1328 | Musician and Devas

Tempera | Rajput School | 15.2 23.6 cms

Rajput paintings evolved and flourished in the royal courts of Rajputana kingdoms. Each kingdom has it's unique style, features and distinguishable from one another by it's composition, use of lines and colours defining the forms and figures within the painting. Here the painting depicts the King or the royal playing flute along with his female co musicians and so beautifully that tune they are playing that even the gods are pleased and showers blessings from the heaven. Excellent detailing of the majesty and his companion amid heavenly ambience can be observed.

1329 | Devas

Tempera | Rajput School |15.5 25.7 cms

Rajput paintings evolved and flourished in the royal courts of Rajputana kingdoms before putting a permanent mark in the field of art and creativity. Each one have it's unique style, features and are clearly distinguishable from one another by it's composition, use of lines and colours defining the forms and figures in the painting.In this painting depiction of the meeting of a King with Gods is the central theme. Gods were pleased upon the King or Royal, they decided to decend to the courtroom in showering off their blessings on the great king. The courtroom, King and Devas are painted with sharp brush strokes, sidewise body and beautiful calm eyes, vivid color and excuisite ornamentations are the factors that catches the eye.

1330 | Worshipping Brahma

Tempera | Rajput School |14 X 22.8 cms

This Rajput miniature painting depicts the scene where queen, princess or royal ladies are worshipping Lord Brahma. They are offering flowers to the god where a swan can also be found, the trees and heavenly environment in significant color and brilliant strokes of brush by the artist define aspects of the masterly creation. The color and ornamemtation of the God and Royal lady, the twin hoisted flags describe the heavenly environment, master work of art by some great artist.

1332 | A Princess With Four Attendants

Tempera | Rajput School |16.5X26.6 cms

This Rajput miniature painting depicts the scene where a royal lady on the terrace of a palace along with her companions. The body features are sharp, dresses and ornaments are excuisitely designed and painted in strikingly beautiful colors. The Palace , it's surroundings are well detailed from the top of the palace to its floor in vivid colors, patterns and delicate strokes of brushes, detailing of the characters like calm eyes with sidewise body view, also the surroundings gave this Rajput miniature painting a distinct identity like all other Rajput Miniature paintings.

1333 | A Prince With Attendants

Tempera Painting | Rajput School | 16.5 X 24.5 cms

Rajput paintings evolved and flourished in the royal courts of Rajputana kingdoms. Each kingdom has its unique style and features and could be distinguished from the other on its visual composition, use of lines and colours defining the forms and the figures in the painting, the medium, etc. With these distinctions each style over a period, formed into a different school and each school further had several artistic styles and substyles. There were four major school under the Rajput miniatures. They being, Mewar school which consists regional styles like Nathdwara, Devgarh, Udaipur. etc; the Marwar school of the Kishangarh, Jodhpur and Bikaner styles; Hadoti school consisting of Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar styles; and other styles from the regions like Jaipur and Shekhawati. The Pahari school comprising of Basoli, Kangra and other styles of miniature paintings was also sprouted out of Rajput miniatures. Themes of Rajput miniatures have the episodes from the epics, Krishna's life, beautiful landscapes, hunting and war scenes, and portraits in a very ornatamental style. Artists belong to each school paints themes with their unique style giving the painting an unique identity. This painting shows a Prince surrounded by his attendants who are offering him with food and sweets.

1334 | A Lady With A Mirror

Tempera Painting | Rajput School | 15.8 x 23.5 cms

In line with the beautiful miniature painting from Rajasthan, The Rajput Miniature, here the painting is showing a lady in her toiletry session for grooming herself. She's watching her reflection in the mirror and attended by her attendants. The architecture shown has fine murals painted on it with the surrounding nature, beautifully crafted courtroom and with exclusive details. Sharp lines, natural yet bright colors enhancing the visual impact.

1336 | Prince Playing Khartal Others Clapping

Tempera Painting | Rajput School | 16.5 x 24.7 cms

Rajput Miniature school has it's own flavor that identifies itself within the sea of art. Human and nature with a story from the artist's surrounding used to be one of the favorite subject. Here the painting shows the Prince playing an instrument 'Kartal', a local instrument, and his attendants enjoying the music thoroughly while clapping to the tune of the music to encourage the player. Colors, details of garments and surroundings, tree with birds on them, feature of human bodies, all directing towards the superb skills of the Rajput Miniature artists.

1337 | Vilaval Raga

Tempera on paper | Rajput School | 15.8 x 23.5 cms

Ragamala paintings were part of most schools of Indian paintings, literally meaning the 'Garland of Ragas of the classical music'. This painting here depicts 'Raag Bilaval', a summer raga played in early morning. In the painting one can find that a group of musicians are playing some tune with various instruments, sitting on floor of a performing room which is delicately decorated with a view to create an ambience. Noteworthy, the palace, walls, floors, dresses, musical instruments and every other thing are painted with clear and sharp strokes, naturally bright colors to evoque a sophisticated response from today's viewers.

1338 | A Prince Holding a Floral Bow and Arrow

Tempera Painting | Rajput School | 15.87 x 21.29 cms

Among the chief patrons for the art of miniature paintings, the provincial governers, kings of Rajasthan and Pahari kingdoms are considered the most important ones. Although the Rajput school evolved much earlier but the school of art in practice flourished during 18th century in the Royal courts of Rajasthan. Thus, the stylistic evolution took place as usual under the patronage of the respective kings, and notably, the evolution of styles of Rajput painting is dependent on geographical categories. Each kingdom helped to evolved a distinct style yet all were connected via some common features grossly known to as Rajput miniatures. This miniature school adopts number of themes and events from the epics; Ramayana and Mahabharata, life of Lord Krishna, other themes like Rasikpriya (lyrical paintings of Radha and Krishna from the poems of Rasikpriya series by Keshavdas), Ragamala paintings (painting of various moods of Ragas in the classical Indian music), Baramasa paintings and many others.In this painting, the artist painted a scene where a Prince is with his female companions, while the prince is holding a floral bow and arrow.

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The painting portrays a story of Sri Krishna and Radha. Here two lead characters are sitting facing each other, Sri Krishna on a chair in the open ground, while Radha inside a special viewing arena. Companions are encouraging and enjoying the situation. Few spectators are watching from behind the trees, while some of the companions are in different postures. Beautiful nature, green pasture, flowering trees are adding color and hue to the glorious presence of Sri Krishna and Radha. The finer lines, sharp features of characters, the color composition tells all about the superb skills of the artist and his devotion.

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