The Indian Miniature
This is about talking few words for India's well culture interpreted art for which Mughals and Others Kingdoms like Rajputs have contributed a lot. 'THE INDIAN MINIATURE'.
Miniature painting appears like a jumble and entangles of pastoral settings, dominated by mannish and feminine figures. The different schools of Indian miniatures - like the Pala, Orissa, Jain, Mughal, Rajasthani and Nepali -- did not spring up like mushrooms after isolated showers. They were the products of hothouse cultivation practiced over generations.
The Indian paintings have now acquired a stature of their own. They use materials and techniques from all over the world but express Indian realities and Indian experiences. The respect for tradition and the ability to transcend it at the same time is clearly evident in Indian art of today. This is the essence of what has been described as the eclecticism of the Indian contemporary expression.
History of Miniature Paintings in India
6-7th Century
It is difficult to say from which era 'Indian Miniature' came into existence. Kashmiri miniature is said to be of 6-7th century old but there is no evidence for the same.
11th Century
The 11th century Pala miniatures were the earliest to arrive. Their most important contribution was the symbolic use of color. In Pala painting, color symbolism was taken from tantric ritual, whereas in Pahadi and Rajasthani paintings the use of bright backgrounds was purely for pictorial effect.
The miniature tradition of painting goes back at least to the 11th century when palm-leaf manuscripts of Jaina religious texts were prepared in different parts of southwest and central Rajasthan.
The styles of the Jaina caves at Ellora follows similar styles and designs. In Bengal, Bihar & Orissa, Buddhist manuscripts were illustrated, mostly paintings of Buddha on palm leaves. They resemble the Ajantha style but on a miniature scale.
Shining & Flourishing of Indian Miniature - Mughal Era
Mughals miniature painting flourished with courtly scenes - small, colorful pictures painted in glowing mineral and vegetable colors on hand-made papers. The Mughal emperors introduced their own style of miniature paintings with Persian inspiration. Court scenes were depicted in grandeur. The background was usually hilly landscapes. Flowers & animals were also vastly depicted & in these the Indian artists applied their own skill to develop on the Persian ideas.
Rajastani Miniatures
In Rajasthan, several distinct schools of painting evolved. The four major schools are: Mewar, Marwar, Bundi-Kota, and Amber-Jaipur. The most important Marwar centers were Bikaner and Jodhpur whose rulers employed Mughal-trained artists. Miniatures of Rajsthan are the most famous among paintings developed under the patronage of the court. In every part of Rajasthan, groups of highly talented and created artists produced these remarkable paintings on paper as well as on ivory panels, wooden tablets, leather, marble and cloth exist.
The Rajput paintings can be put under two broad groups, the Rajasthani style & the Pahari style. The subject matter of the paintings were mostly religious & love subjects, based on Lord Rama & Lord Krishna. Court scenes were depicted as also royal portraits. Bold outlines & brilliant colors are characteristic of Rajasthani paintings.
The sixteenth century was creatively speaking fruitful for Indian painting. The art of miniature painting came into great prominence both under the Mughals and the Muslim kings of the Deccan and Malwa and under the Hindu Rajas of Rajasthan.
The Kashmir school of miniature painting survived taking a new birth during the late 18th century, continuing through the l9th century to the early decades of the twentieth.
The Bengal school, many contemporary painters have been influenced by modern styles.
And Today...
Even today also - the art of miniature painting is alive with all cultural combination. You can get artists in India spending whole life after miniature painting creation with different mediums.
Miniature painters employed at various medieval courts discovered the potential of limitless self-expression in their depiction and today there are 130 known sets of such miniatures.
Other than there are various art schools giving exposure to historical miniature art styles.
Amita, An Indian Miniature Artist says, " Indian miniature art is evolved from far history. Every culture and ruler have contributed to that. Why not to alive it and again add value of other culture. There is in depth learning over Indian as well as Italy (and so others) miniatures. Learn it and try to make something great, which has never done".
That's what Picasso said "If there is something to steal, I steal it!."
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