Colonial and Post-Mughal Miniature Traditions

(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.

• First centre: Murshidabad
• Later spread to → Calcutta, Madras, Varanasi, Delhi, Lucknow, Patna, Thanjavur, Bangalore

This school represents a hybrid art form, blending → Indian subjects, Western techniques, Colonial documentation needs

European Influence

Company paintings were created for British patrons, not Indian courts. As a result, artists adopted → Linear perspective, Light and shade, Anatomical realism, Naturalistic backgrounds

👉 Indian miniature traditions were re-oriented to suit European tastes.

Key Characteristics

1. Documentation-Oriented Art

• Detailed depiction of → Indian flora and fauna, Architecture and monuments, Costumes, castes, professions
• Paintings functioned as visual records, almost proto-photographic.

2. Colour and Technique

• Soft, muted palettes; Watercolour wash technique; Clean, refined finish

3. Everyday Life as Subject

• Markets, Festivals, Occupational groups, Landscapes and cityscapes
  → “Exotic India” for European eyes

4. Portable Format

• Painted on paper (sometimes cloth)
• Easy to transport to Britain as albums or souvenirs

Important Artists

• Mazhar Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali Khan, Ghulam Murtaza Khan

Landmark Work: The Delhi Book

• Album of 120 Company-style paintings
• Commissioned in 1844
• Patron: Sir Thomas Metcalfe
• Documents:
  • Monuments of Delhi
  • Final years of the Mughal court

UPSC hook:
Company painting = colonial documentation through Indian hands

Patna School of Painting (Patna Kalam)

Origin and Development

Also known as Patna Kalam, this school developed in Bihar during the 18th–19th centuries.

• Centres → Patna, Danapur, Arrah

It emerged when artists migrated to Patna after the fall of the Nawab of Bengal (mid-18th century).
Patronage came from → Local Indian aristocracy, East India Company officials
This style represents a fusion of Mughal, Company, and folk traditions.

Distinctive Features

1. Folk Art Influence

• Strongly rooted in Bihari folk life
• Less courtly, more grounded

2. Medium and Technique

• Transparent watercolours
• Painted on → Paper, Mica (gives translucent, glass-like effect)
• Direct brushwork → No pencil sketching, Painted straight with brush

3. Composition

• Minimal or no background
• Focus entirely on the subject
• No decorative borders (unlike Mughal art)

4. Colour Palette

• Earthy, Muted, Subtle tones emphasising realism

5. Subject Matter

• Markets, Festivals, Rituals, Trades and professions
  → Daily life of Patna, not royalty

UPSC hook:
Patna Kalam = folk realism + mica medium + everyday life

Company vs Patna Paintings: Comparative Understanding

Similarities

• Realistic depiction of Indian life
• Everyday subjects (markets, professions, festivals)
• European techniques like perspective and shading
• Portable media (paper/mica)
• Soft, muted colour palettes

Differences

Aspect	Company School	Patna School
Patronage	British colonial elites	Indian aristocrats + Company
Artistic Influence	Strong European	More indigenous, folk
Subject Focus	Exotic India, monuments, flora-fauna	Local Bihari life
Technique	Refined, layered, scenic	Direct brushwork
Background	Detailed, elaborate	Minimal or absent
Medium	High-quality paper/cloth	Paper and mica

Bazar (Bazaar) Paintings

Nature and Purpose

Bazar paintings (also called tourist paintings) emerged in 19th-century India to cater to → Western tourists, Colonial officials, Budget buyers

These were → Mass-produced, Commercial, Made with cheaper materials

Characteristics

• Simpler techniques
• Brighter, sometimes crude colours
• Less refined execution
• Popular, religious, or everyday themes

While sometimes grouped with Company paintings, they are distinct in quality and intent.

Company vs Bazar Paintings

Aspect	Company Style	Bazar Style
Audience	British elites	Tourists, common buyers
Purpose	Documentation, records	Souvenirs
Technique	Precise, realistic	Loose, simplified
Colour	Muted, naturalistic	Brighter, casual
Refinement	High	Low to moderate