Indian art is not confined to royal courts or grand monuments. A large, vibrant part of it lives in villages, forests, and tribal settlements. This is where folk and tribal paintings emerge—art forms created by common people, for common people. At their core, folk paintings are expressions of everyday life. They use a simple visual…
(18th – 19th C.) Company School of Painting Origin and Development The Company School of Painting emerged in the 18th–early 19th centuries under the patronage of the British East India Company. This school represents a hybrid art form, blending → Indian subjects, Western techniques, Colonial documentation needs European Influence Company paintings were created for British…
(16th – 19th Century) Mysore Painting Origin and Historical Context Mysore painting originated in and around Mysore (Karnataka) and is an offshoot of the Vijayanagara artistic tradition. After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, many artists migrated south. These painters were rehabilitated and patronised by the Mysore rulers, giving rise to a distinct regional style….
(16th–19th Century) Background of Rajput Painting Origin and Development Rajput painting is a miniature painting tradition that developed in the Hindu kingdoms of Rajasthan roughly between the late 16th century and mid-19th century. The term “Rajput painting” was formally coined in 1916 by Ananda Coomaraswamy, who identified it as a distinct indigenous tradition separate from…
(16th – 18th Century) Muslim Miniature Painting (Pre-Mughal Phase) Establishment of the Tradition With the establishment of Islamic rule in India, illustrated manuscripts of Persian texts began to be produced. Notable Work: Nimatnama One of the most famous early examples is → Nimatnama-i-Nasiruddin-Shahi commmissioned by Ghiyath Shah → Produced at Mandu (late 15th century) Why…
(8th to 15th Century CE) Pala Miniature (Eastern India) Historical Context Earlier miniatures on wood and cloth existed but are completely lost. Themes and Subjects Artistic Characteristics Decline Jain Miniature (Western Indian School) Origins and Patronage A major patron was Kumarapala (12th century), who commissioned and distributed hundreds of illustrated Jain manuscripts to propagate Jainism….
Miniature paintings are small-sized, highly detailed paintings executed on vellum (prepared animal skin), palm leaf, cloth, paper, ivory, copper, etc. Their small scale was not a limitation but a deliberate aesthetic choice, as they were primarily meant for: Defining Features of Indian Miniatures Major Indian Miniature Styles Indian miniature painting evolved as a refined art…
Now we move from rock shelters to walls, from the first human scratch on stone to sophisticated visual storytelling integrated with architecture. This is the world of Mural Paintings—where Indian art attains classical maturity. I want you to see murals not as isolated paintings, but as part of a sacred space, meant to be seen,…
Introduction Rock art refers to paintings, drawings, and bruising found on natural surfaces such as → Caves, Rock shelters, Boulders These are the oldest art forms practised by humans anywhere in the world, including India. Chronological span In India, the chronology of rock art can be traced back to the Upper Palaeolithic period, making it…
Meaning and Origins of Indian Painting In Indian tradition, painting is known as Chitra Kala, and in ancient texts it is often referred to as Varnana—literally meaning depiction through colour. This itself tells us something profound: painting in India was never just decoration; it was visual narration. A journey across millennia Indian painting did not…
