{"id":27142,"date":"2026-10-28T17:50:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/?p=27142"},"modified":"2026-10-28T17:50:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:20:59","slug":"miniature-paintings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/miniature-paintings\/","title":{"rendered":"Miniature Paintings, Techniques, Evolution, Different Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Miniature Paintings are <\/span><b>small, detailed and colorful artworks that were mainly created on paper, cloth, or ivory.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> They often depict scenes from history, mythology or court life and are known for their fine brushwork and intricate details. They are an integral part of Indian Painting history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Miniature Paintings About<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Miniature paintings are <\/span><b>small-sized paintings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> made with <\/span><b>great detail and bright colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They were mainly painted on <\/span><b>paper, cloth, or palm leaves<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings show <\/span><b>stories from history, religion and royal court life<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Miniature paintings developed in medieval India, especially under the Mughal, Rajput, and Deccan rulers.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong>Read about: <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/mural-paintings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mural Paintings<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Miniature Paintings Techniques<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Miniature paintings were usually made using the <\/span><b>tempera technique<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, where colours were mixed with a binding material to make them long-lasting. This method helped artists create <\/span><b>fine lines and clear details<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which is the main feature of miniature art.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings are <\/span><b>small in size<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, generally very compact, so that every part of the artwork looks neat and balanced. The small size helped artists focus more on <\/span><b>detail rather than large backgrounds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>main subject is drawn much smaller than real life<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which gives the painting a decorative and stylized look instead of a realistic one.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The painting should not be more than <\/span><b>25 square inches in size.<\/b><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Human figures are shown in a <\/span><b>stylised manner<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, often in <\/span><b>side view<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> rather than full front view. This was done to maintain uniformity and traditional artistic rules.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The figures usually have <\/span><b>large expressive eyes, sharp nose and slim body<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, making them easily recognizable. Skin colours are shown as <\/span><b>fair or brown<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, while gods like <\/span><b>Lord Krishna are painted blue<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to show divinity.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hair and eyes are mostly shown in <\/span><b>black colour<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Women are often painted with <\/span><b>long hair<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, while men are shown wearing <\/span><b>turbans<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, reflecting the social and cultural life of the time.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Artists mainly used <\/span><b>natural colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> made from plants, minerals and stones. Colours like <\/span><b>red, yellow, blue, white, black and brown<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> were commonly used to give brightness and beauty to the paintings.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Traditional <\/span><b>Indian clothes, ornaments, slippers and shoes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are carefully shown, which helps us understand the <\/span><b>culture and lifestyle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of the period.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><b>Early Miniature Paintings<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Early miniature paintings were <\/span><b>small paintings with fine details<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, mainly made for <\/span><b>manuscripts, books and albums<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They were painted on <\/span><b>perishable materials<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> such as <\/span><b>paper, palm leaves and cloth<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which is why many early works have not survived.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This form of painting developed between the <\/span><b>8th and 12th centuries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, partly as a <\/span><b>response to large wall and mural paintings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Early miniature art was found in <\/span><b>both eastern and western parts of India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, showing regional influence.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the beginning, these paintings were <\/span><b>simple and less decorative<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, but over time they became <\/span><b>more refined and detailed<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Two important early schools of miniature painting were the <\/span><b>Pala School of Art<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and the <\/span><b>Apabhramsa School of Art<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which played a key role in the growth of this tradition.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Pala School of Painting<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>Pala School of Painting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is one of the <\/span><b>earliest forms of miniature painting in India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and developed between the 8th<\/span><b> and 12th centuries (about 750-1150 AD)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It flourished under the <\/span><b>Pala rulers of Bengal and eastern India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, during a period when <\/span><b>Buddhism and Buddhist art were at their peak<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings were mainly made for <\/span><b>Buddhist manuscripts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and were painted on <\/span><b>palm leaves or early paper<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which were easily available materials.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The style is known for its <\/span><b>smooth, flowing lines and soft, dull colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, giving the paintings a calm and natural look.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most paintings show <\/span><b>single figures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, usually of <\/span><b>Buddha or Buddhist deities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and group scenes are rarely seen.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The paintings have <\/span><b>simple backgrounds and compositions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, similar in style to <\/span><b>Ajanta art and contemporary sculptures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They were <\/span><b>patronised by Buddhist monks, Pala kings and followers of the Vajrayana school of Buddhism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Famous artists of this school include <\/span><b>Dhimman and Vitapala<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, who contributed greatly to its development.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong>Read about: <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/indian-paintings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indian Paintings<\/a><br \/>\r\n<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<h3><b>Apabhramsa School of Painting<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>Apabhramsa School of Art<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, also known as the <\/span><b>Western Indian School<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, developed in <\/span><b>Gujarat and the Mewar region of Rajasthan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It flourished between the <\/span><b>11th and 15th centuries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and was the most popular painting style in <\/span><b>western India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> during this period.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the early phase, the paintings were mainly inspired by <\/span><b>Jain religion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, especially stories of Jain monks and scriptures.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Later, <\/span><b>Vaishnava themes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> were also included, such as stories from the <\/span><b>Gita Govinda<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and scenes of <\/span><b>secular love<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At first, paintings were made on <\/span><b>palm leaves<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, but later <\/span><b>paper<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was used as writing materials improved.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Though these paintings were used as <\/span><b>book illustrations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, their style remained similar to <\/span><b>mural paintings but in a smaller size<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The artists used <\/span><b>symbolic colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> like <\/span><b>red, yellow and ochre<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and in later times <\/span><b>bright and golden colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> were added.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Human figures were shown in a <\/span><b>stylised manner<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, with <\/span><b>large fish-shaped eyes, pointed nose and stiff posture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Female figures were often drawn with <\/span><b>broad hips and prominent features<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, while <\/span><b>animals and birds looked toy-like<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Famous examples of this school include illustrations from <\/span><b>Kalpasutra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><b>Kalakacharya Katha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> manuscripts.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><b>Miniature Painting during the Delhi Sultanate<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During the <\/span><b>Delhi Sultanate period<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, miniature painting developed as an <\/span><b>Indo-Persian style<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, combining <\/span><b>Persian influences<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with <\/span><b>Indian artistic traditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, including Jain elements.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most of these paintings were produced between <\/span><b>1450 and 1550 CE<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, mainly in centres like <\/span><b>Mandu and Jaunpur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, with some activity in <\/span><b>Delhi and Gujarat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A well-known example is the <\/span><b>Nimatnama<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a recipe book prepared during the rule of <\/span><b>Nasir Shah of Mandu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which shows scenes of court life, food preparation, and daily activities.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Though painted by <\/span><b>Indian artists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the works followed <\/span><b>Persian models<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, using <\/span><b>bright colours, decorative borders, green landscapes and stylised figures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> arranged in rows.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another style called <\/span><b>Lodi Khuladar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was also popular in Sultanate-ruled regions between Delhi and Jaunpur.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings were <\/span><b>experimental in nature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and later influenced the development of the <\/span><b>Mughal, Rajput and Deccan schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of miniature painting.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><b>Miniature Painting during Mughal Era<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During the <\/span><b>Mughal period<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, miniature painting developed as a <\/span><b>new and refined art form<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with strong <\/span><b>Persian influence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, but it gradually took on an <\/span><b>Indian character<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The main themes changed from religious subjects to the <\/span><b>life of the emperor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, such as <\/span><b>court scenes, hunting, wars and important events<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings are known for their <\/span><b>natural look<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, fine details, and <\/span><b>bright yet balanced colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Artists carefully showed <\/span><b>human figures, animals, flowers and landscapes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, often with <\/span><b>hills in the background<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mughal painters introduced the technique of <\/span><b>foreshortening<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, where objects are drawn in a way that makes them appear <\/span><b>near or far<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, giving a sense of depth.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mughal art covered <\/span><b>many subjects<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, not only religion, which made it <\/span><b>rich and varied<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Contribution of Mughal Rulers<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The development of Mughal miniature painting was shaped by the support of different Mughal emperors. Each ruler added new ideas, themes, and techniques to this art form. From <\/span><b>Akbar\u2019s organized royal workshop to Jahangir\u2019s love for nature and Shah Jahan\u2019s decorative style<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Mughal painting evolved continuously. Though <\/span><b>Aurangzeb withdrew royal patronage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the art survived and spread to regional courts, influencing later Indian painting traditions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><b>Akbar (1556-1605)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Akbar gave strong support to painting and created a <\/span><b>separate department for art and writing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He set up a royal workshop called <\/span><b>Tasvir Khana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, where painters were appointed on salary and trained professionally.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Akbar believed paintings were useful for <\/span><b>learning and entertainment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and rewarded artists who produced <\/span><b>realistic images<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He invited skilled <\/span><b>Indian artists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from earlier kingdoms, which brought a strong <\/span><b>Indian element<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> into Mughal painting.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paintings of this period show <\/span><b>three-dimensional figures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, use of <\/span><b>foreshortening<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and <\/span><b>calligraphy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Art shifted from popular themes to <\/span><b>court scenes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, such as royal life and administration.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Famous painters<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Daswanth, Basawan, Kesu.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Important illustrated manuscripts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hamzanama, Tutinama, Anvar-i-Suhaili,<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gulistan of Sadi<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Jahangir (1605-1627)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mughal painting reached its <\/span><b>highest level<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> during Jahangir\u2019s reign.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He was a <\/span><b>lover of nature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and preferred paintings of <\/span><b>birds, animals, plants and flowers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Artists focused more on <\/span><b>portraits and albums<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> rather than manuscripts.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A new feature of this period was <\/span><b>highly decorated borders<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> around paintings.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paintings became more <\/span><b>naturalistic and detailed<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, especially in animal studies.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Ustad Mansoor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was the most famous painter, known for realistic animal and bird paintings.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ayar-i-Danish<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was an important illustrated work of this period.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Shah Jahan (1628-1658)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During Shah Jahan\u2019s reign, Mughal painting became more <\/span><b>formal and decorative<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He preferred <\/span><b>artificial beauty and stillness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> instead of natural expressions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">European influence increased, and artists began using <\/span><b>pencil sketches<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> instead of charcoal.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Greater use of <\/span><b>gold, silver and bright colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was encouraged.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paintings mainly showed <\/span><b>court scenes, royal portraits, festivals, processions and durbars<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Though the royal workshop expanded, the <\/span><b>style became less lively<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> than before.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Aurangzeb (1658-1707)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aurangzeb <\/span><b>did not support painting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, considering it unimportant.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As royal patronage declined, many Mughal painters <\/span><b>migrated to regional courts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> like Rajasthan and Awadh.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There, Mughal style mixed with local traditions, leading to the rise of <\/span><b>Provincial Mughal painting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Awadh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> became an important centre of this new style.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><b>Miniature Paintings of Rajput Style<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rajput miniature painting developed mainly between the <\/span><b>16th and 18th centuries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> under the patronage of <\/span><b>Rajput rulers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of Rajasthan, Central India, and the <\/span><b>Punjab Himalayan region<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. In the early stage, this art was influenced by <\/span><b>mural and fresco traditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, but later it became popular in the <\/span><b>miniature form<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings were deeply rooted in <\/span><b>Indian culture and traditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Most themes were <\/span><b>religious and devotional<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, drawn from Indian epics and sacred texts such as the <\/span><b>Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, Shiva Purana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><b>Gita Govinda of Jayadeva<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Folk stories and musical themes also inspired the artists.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rajput Paintings commonly used <\/span><b>Hindu symbols<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> like the <\/span><b>lotus, peacock and swan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which had spiritual meanings. The style reflected devotion, emotion, and a strong connection with nature.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Broadly, Rajput miniature paintings are divided into <\/span><b>two main schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Rajasthani School of Painting<\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Pahari School of Painting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (developed mainly between the 17th and 19th centuries)<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Rajasthani School of Painting<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rajasthani paintings developed in the princely states of present-day Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh between the 16th and early 19th centuries, under the patronage of Rajput rulers.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Earlier called \u201cRajput paintings\u201d by scholars, they are now mainly grouped as <\/span><b>Rajasthani and Pahari schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and they followed strong Indian artistic traditions different from Mughal art.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings were made on <\/span><b>Wasli<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (layers of handmade paper) using natural colours from minerals, gold and silver and fine brushes made of animal hair, then polished for a smooth finish.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Painting was a team effort, where the main artist planned the design and other artists added colours and details.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most themes were <\/span><b>religious and devotional<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, especially stories of <\/span><b>Radha\u2013Krishna<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, inspired by texts like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gita Govinda, Rasamanjari<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rasikapriya<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other popular subjects included <\/span><b>Ragamala paintings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, scenes from epics like the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ramayana<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mahabharata<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and royal life such as court scenes, festivals, hunting, animals and birds.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Important centres were Mewar, Bundi, Kota, Jaipur, Bikaner, Kishangarh, Marwar, Malwa and nearby regions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<table style=\"width: 97.093%\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"text-align: center;width: 96.3928%\" colspan=\"2\"><b>Rajasthani School of Paintings<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5331%\">\r\n<p><b>Mewar School of Painting<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.8597%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Mewar was an early centre of Rajasthani painting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, but many early works were lost due to wars.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It<\/span><b> began around 1605<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with Ragamala paintings showing bold style and bright colours.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Under <\/span><b>Jagat Singh I<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, artists like <\/span><b>Sahibdin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> developed illustrations of the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ramayana<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and other texts.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Later, paintings focused more on <\/span><b>royal life, portraits and festivals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, with <\/span><b>bright red and yellow colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5331%\">\r\n<p><b>Malwa School of Painting<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.8597%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Malwa School (1600\u20131700 CE)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> developed in central India with a simple and flat painting style.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paintings mainly showed <\/span><b>religious and literary stories<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, not royal portraits.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Artists were often <\/span><b>travelling painters<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, not tied to one court.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This period also saw the growth of <\/span><b>Mughal, Deccani, Rajasthani and Pahari<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> painting schools.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5331%\">\r\n<p><b>Bundi School of Painting<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.8597%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It developed in Rajasthan during the <\/span><b>17th\u201318th centuries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and is closely related to the Mewar style.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is known for <\/span><b>bright colours, detailed landscapes, forests, rivers, animals (especially elephants) and dramatic night scenes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Common themes include <\/span><b>hunting scenes, court life, festivals, processions and stories of Lord Krishna<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, showing strong Krishna devotion.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Human figures have <\/span><b>round faces, sharp noses, slim waists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and expressive movements.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It later influenced the <\/span><b>Kota School<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5331%\">\r\n<p><b>Bikaner School of Painting<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.8597%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It grew in the 17th century under Mughal influence.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It used <\/span><b>soft colours and refined styles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> similar to Mughal art.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Anup Singh (1669\u20131698)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> supported painting by setting up studios and a library.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paintings often had <\/span><b>artist names and dates written on them<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, making this school well recorded.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5331%\">\r\n<p><b>Kishangarh School of Painting<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.8597%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is known for its <\/span><b>highly stylised figures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with long faces, sharp noses, arched eyebrows and lotus-shaped eyes.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The school developed in <\/span><b>Kishangarh (Rajasthan)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in the 17th\u201318th centuries under royal patronage.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paintings often show <\/span><b>Radha\u2013Krishna themes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, influenced by Vaishnavism.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most famous artist was <\/span><b>Nihal Chand<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, who painted romantic and devotional scenes.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings use <\/span><b>rich colours and wide landscapes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, with small figures set in large scenic backgrounds.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5331%\">\r\n<p><b>Jodhpur (Marwar) School of Paintings<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.8597%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It mixed <\/span><b>Mughal style<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with strong <\/span><b>local folk traditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rulers encouraged <\/span><b>portraits, court life and Krishna\/Ramayana themes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paintings often showed <\/span><b>local places, costumes and culture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Names of artists and dates are <\/span><b>rarely written<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in these paintings.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5331%\">\r\n<p><b>Jaipur School of Painting<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.8597%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It began at <\/span><b>Amer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and was <\/span><b>strongly influenced by Mughal art<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> because Jaipur rulers had friendly relations with the Mughals.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It <\/span><b>developed fully under Sawai Jai Singh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, who founded Jaipur city and invited <\/span><b>Mughal artists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to work in his court.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most paintings were based on <\/span><b>Radha-Krishna themes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, religious books like <\/span><b>Gita Govinda<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><b>royal portraits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Later rulers continued supporting art, showing <\/span><b>court life, hunts, festivals and leisure scenes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By the <\/span><b>18th century<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Jaipur painting became a <\/span><b>separate style<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, using <\/span><b>bright colours, gold, large paintings and life-size portraits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5331%\">\r\n<p><b>Kota School of Painting<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.8597%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Kota School of Painting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> developed from the <\/span><b>Bundi tradition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> after Kota became a separate state in the <\/span><b>17th century<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is <\/span><b>best known for hunting scenes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, showing kings, animals and forests with great energy.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kota painters were the <\/span><b>first to give importance to landscapes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> as the main subject.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The style shows <\/span><b>strong animal drawings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, action scenes, bold lines and <\/span><b>distinct eyes.<\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2><b>Miniature Paintings in South India<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Miniature Paintings in South India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> developed during the <\/span><b>early medieval period<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and had a style different from North Indian schools.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings used <\/span><b>a lot of gold<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which made them bright and decorative.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Artists mainly painted <\/span><b>Hindu gods and goddesses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, while rulers were shown less often.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>climate and local traditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of South India influenced their painting style.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>main schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of South Indian miniature painting are <\/span><b>Tanjore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><b>Mysore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Tanjore School of Painting<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Tanjore paintings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> developed in South India during the <\/span><b>late 18th and 19th centuries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and are famous for their <\/span><b>heavy use of gold<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings use <\/span><b>bright colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, bold outlines and simple shading to make the figures stand out.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Artists decorated the paintings with <\/span><b>gold foil, pearls, glass pieces and semi-precious stones<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, giving them a rich look.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most paintings show <\/span><b>Hindu gods and goddesses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, especially <\/span><b>Lord Krishna<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, often shown smiling in different scenes from his life.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The figures are <\/span><b>large<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, with <\/span><b>round and calm faces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, giving them a divine appearance.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This style grew under the support of <\/span><b>Maratha ruler Maharaja Serfoji II<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, who encouraged art and culture.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Today, Tanjore paintings are still made, and artists also paint <\/span><b>birds, animals and buildings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> along with religious themes.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Mysore School of Painting<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Mysore paintings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> began in South India during the <\/span><b>Vijayanagara period<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and later developed under the rulers of Mysore.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings are known for their <\/span><b>soft colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, neat work and <\/span><b>very fine detailing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The main subjects are <\/span><b>Hindu gods and goddesses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and stories from <\/span><b>Indian epics and mythology<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Usually, <\/span><b>more than one figure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is shown, but <\/span><b>one main figure is larger and brighter<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> than the others.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Artists used <\/span><b>thin lines and gentle brush strokes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to give the figures a graceful look.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A special feature is the use of <\/span><b>gesso work<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a paste used to raise designs of jewellery, clothes and temple pillars, which are then covered with <\/span><b>gold<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mysore rulers supported this art and it <\/span><b>continued even during the British period<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><b>Pahari School of Painting<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Pahari painting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> developed in the <\/span><b>sub-Himalayan regions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, mainly in present-day <\/span><b>Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, parts of Punjab and Uttarakhand<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These areas had many <\/span><b>small Rajput kingdoms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, where kings supported artists between the <\/span><b>17th and 19th centuries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paintings were made in royal workshops (called <\/span><b>atelier<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">) across about <\/span><b>22 princely states<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pahari paintings are mainly divided into <\/span><b>two schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: <\/span><b>Basholi School<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><b>Kangra School<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The paintings show stories from <\/span><b>mythology, literature and love themes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, with <\/span><b>many moving figures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> on one canvas.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Each figure looks <\/span><b>different in colour, posture and expression<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, giving life to the scene.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Famous painters of this tradition include <\/span><b>Nainsukh, Manaku and Sansar Chand<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Basholi School of Painting<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Basholi (Basohli) School<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was the <\/span><b>earliest Pahari painting style<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and developed in the Basholi region.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings are known for <\/span><b>bold lines, bright colours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> like red, yellow and green and <\/span><b>strong expressions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Human figures have <\/span><b>large lotus-shaped eyes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, expressive faces and a <\/span><b>receding hairline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most paintings show <\/span><b>Radha\u2013Krishna stories<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and texts like <\/span><b>Rasamanjari, Gita Govinda and Ramayana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Raja Kirpal Pal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was the first major patron of this school.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Devi Das<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was the most famous painter, known for Radha-Krishna themes and royal portraits.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Kangra School of Painting<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Kangra School of painting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> developed in <\/span><b>Himachal Pradesh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> after Mughal artists moved to hill states when Mughal power declined.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It grew from the <\/span><b>Guler style<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and became the <\/span><b>most mature phase of Pahari painting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in the late 18th century.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The school reached its <\/span><b>highest level under Raja Sansar Chand<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, who was a great patron of art.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These paintings are known for <\/span><b>soft lines, natural beauty and emotional expressions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Women figures have <\/span><b>sharp chins, long eyes and gentle facial features<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Common themes include <\/span><b>Radha-Krishna love stories<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Gita Govinda<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Bhagavata Purana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and the <\/span><b>Barahmasa (twelve months)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> theme.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kangra style later influenced painting centres in <\/span><b>Kullu, Chamba and Mandi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Miniature Paintings in India explained with features, techniques, evolution and major schools like Mughal, Rajput, Pahari, Tanjore and Mysore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":27144,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1787],"tags":[1869],"class_list":{"0":"post-27142","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-current-affairs","8":"tag-miniature-paintings"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27142"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27148,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27142\/revisions\/27148"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}