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Source– This post is based on the article “Explained: Art historian B N Goswamy’s work on Indian miniature painting tradition” published in “The Indian Express” on 18th November 2023.
Why in the News?
Indian art historian and critic Brijinder Nath Goswamy, best known for his scholarship on Indian miniature painting tradition, passed away.
What was Goswamy’s contribution?
1. His contribution lies in revealing that painting styles were family-dependent rather than region-dependent.
2. He reconstructed family networks of renowned artists, such as Pandit Seu and his sons Nainsukh and Manaku.
What are Miniature Paintings?
| What is it? | Miniature painting is an intricate form of art involving highly detailed paintings on a small scale. |
| Evolution | 1. The history of Indian miniature paintings tradition go back to the Buddhist Pala dynasty from 8th till 11th century. 2. It flourished under Mughal empire in the early 1500s but declined during Aurangzeb reign. 3. With migration of artists, different schools of miniature painting emerged in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, etc. |
| Techniques of miniature Paintings | Executed in the traditional tempera technique- 1. The painting shouldn’t be larger than 25 square inch. 2. The subject of the painting should be painted in not more than 1/6th of the actual size. 3. In these paintings there are very few human characters with visible front face. Most of the human characters are seen with side profile. |
| Features | 1. Big eyes, pointed nose and slim waist, The skin colours of human being are Brown and fair. 2. The colour of the hair and eyes is black. Women characters have long hair. Men and women wear the traditional Indian dress, slippers and shoes. Men wear turbans on their head. 3. Mostly Natural colours have been used in these paintings. Black, red, white, brown, blue, and yellow colours are used to decorate the paintings. |
What are different schools of Indian Miniature Painting?
| Pala School of Art | 1. Mostly palm leaf and paper were used. 2. The prominent painters were Dhimman and Vitapala. |
| Apabhramsa School of Art | 1. This school traces its origin to Gujarat and Mewar region in Rajasthan. 2. This school is divided in two phases– – Illustrations made on palm leaf – Illustrations made on paper 3. Features-fish shaped bulging eyes, a pointed nose and a double chin, animal and bird figurines in the paintings are represented as toys. 4. Most famous example -Kalpasutra and the Kalakacharya Katha from 15th century |
| Miniature Art during Delhi Sultanate | 1. Developed an Indo-Persian style of painting that drew heavily from schools in Iran and Jain paintings. 2. Features– Groups of people standing in rows and identical poses, narrow bands of decoration running across the width of the painting. 3. Manuscript called the Nimat Nama depicts scenes of food preparation. 4. Another style called Lodi Khuladar was also prevalent during this period. |
| Mughal Era Miniature Painting | 1. The Mughal paintings are characterized by their subtleness and naturalism. They are considered unique because of the use of brilliant colors. 2. Early Mughal painter- Bizhad 3. Akbar established ‘tasvir khana’. 4. Famous painters of this period include: Daswanth, Basawan and Kesu. 5. Prominent illustrated manuscripts during Akbar’s reign are Tutinama, Hamzanama, Anvar-i-Suhaili and Gulistan of Sadi. |
| Rajput Paintings | 1. The Rajput paintings flourished under the patronage of the Hindu Rajput rulers of Rajputana and Punjab Himalayas during the period 1500 CE to the middle of the 19th century. 2. Themes of Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Puranas, and Gita etc. were prominent. |
| Pahari school of Painting | 1. These paintings were largely done in miniature painting forms throughout the era of the 17th to 19th centuries 2. Based on their regional diversity, Pahari paintings in India can be divided into two groups. Basohli and Kullu Style – Chaurapanchasika style Guler and Kangra Style – Calm colours and modification 3. Nainsukh was a famous master of the mid-18th century 4. The central theme of Pahari painting is depiction of eternal love of Hindu deities Radha and Krishna |
| Rajasthani School of Painting | 1. Rajasthani paintings are those works that have been executed in Rajputana, from Bikaner to the border of Gujarat and from Jodhpur to Gwalior and Ujjain. 2. The themes of the paintings were mostly religious and love subjects, based on Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. 3. Characteristic– Old outlines and brilliant colours. |
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