Rajasthani Miniature Painting
Rajput painting, also called Rajasthani painting, evolved and flourished in the royal courts of Rajputana in northern India, mainly during the 17th and 18th centuries which was introduced to the land of India by the Mughals, who brought the much-revealed art form from Persia. In the sixteenth century, the Mughal ruler Humayun brought artists from Persia, who specialized in miniature painting. The succeeding Mughal Emperor, Akbar built an atelier for them to promote the rich art form.
Traditionally, the paintings are aristocratic, individualistic and strong in portraiture, where the plush court scenes and hunting expedition of royalty are depicted. Flowers and animals are also the recurrent images in the paintings.
Artists trained in the tradition of the Mughal miniature were dispersed from the imperial Mughal court, and developed styles also drawing from local traditions of painting, especially those illustrating the Hindu religious epics, the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Each Rajputana kingdom evolved a distinct style, but with certain common features who produced paintings in a new distinctive style, inspired by the royal and romantic lives of the Mughals. The particular miniature produced by Indian artists in their own style is known as Rajput or Rajasthani miniature.
The miniature artists use paper, ivory panels, wooden tablets, leather, marble, cloth and walls for their paintings.
Miniatures in manuscripts or single sheets, paintings on the walls of palaces, inner chambers of the forts, havelis, particularly, the havelis of Shekhawati, the forts and palaces built by Shekhawat Rajputs.
The colours are made from minerals and vegetables, conch shells, precious stones, as well as pure silver and gold.
The brushes are required to be very fine, and to get high-quality results, brushes made from hair of squirrels.
Pictures Source: Internet & Shantala Kanth
Content: Internet
Comments