Different schools of art compared

Table 1

Origin

Mughal
Earlier Persian blend.
Became Indian under
Akbar.

Pahari
Originated in the subHimalayan kingdoms of
19th century.

Rajasthani/Rajput
Early 16th century.
Various sub-schools
existed

Madhubani/Mithila
Done traditionally by the
women in the villages
near the town of
Madhubani. It originated
as floor and wall
paintings.

Manjusha/Angika

Tanjore
17th century under the
patronage of Tanjores
Maratha rulers

Essentially a folk
tradition
Type
Themes

Mostly in miniature
form
Document of life at the
Mughal court, battles,
hunt, arrival of
embassies, festivities

Mostly done in
miniature form
Love of man for
woman. Symbolised by
Krishna and Radha

Portrait paintings
developed under
Jahangir

Strongly influenced by
the contemporary
literary and musical
forms, and draw upon
their motifs

Realism is the keynote

of this style
Artists had made
contacts with Western
art. Influence can be
seen.

Technique

Usually portrayed
deities. Vishnu,Shiva
and Krishna

<details below>

Exceptional Point

Characteristics

Nature and Hindu

religious motifs

Bold and intense

Basohli
Delicate and lyrical;
Tones subdued and
lines exquisitely fine Kangra

Decorate in their
composition and
colour scheme
Landscape lacks the
naturalism of the
Mughal school

Used wider canvas

Was originally practiced

by Brahmins and
Kayasthas. Later SC
women also adopted it.
But the themes of the
two are different. While
higher castes depicted
mythological themes,
SCs experimented with
day-to-day scenes.
Two dimensional
imagery. Colors derived
from plants.
No space is left empty.
Gaps are filled by
painting flowers, plants
animals and even
geometric shapes.
Traditionally done as
murals on mud walls.
Now is also done one
cloth, paper and canvas

Snakes are a prominent

feature

Artists adhered strictly

to iconography as these
paintings were made for
ritual and worship and
not for display as is
mostly the case today.

Made on jackwood
pasted with unbleached
cloth to which a mixture
of limestone, chalk
powder, gum and honey
are applied in layers on

a sketch of the icon.

Extra coats given to
raise some parts of the
painting. Jewellery etc
are put.
Major Artists
Major Works

Basawan, Daswanth,
Kesudasa, Mansur
Akbarnama
illustrations; rare birds
and animals Falcon
(CS Museum, Bombay),
Red Blossoms floral
painting

Major schools

Patrons

Jagdamba Devi,
Mahasundari Devi
Jodhpur and Nagaur
paintings.

Basohli, Guler, Kangra

Akbar, Jahangir

Malwa, Mewar
(Ragamala paintings),
Marwar, Kishangarh,
Jaipur, Bundi, Kotah

Bharni style, Kachni

style

Raja Kripal Singh

(Bahsoli)

Rajasthani Art Schools

Mewar (Ragamala)

themes from the life of Krishna and his frolic with the gopis; heroes and heroines of Hindi poetry.
Scenes from Bhagvata and Ramayana
Landscape lacks the naturalism of the Mughal school

Marwar

Genuine Rajput style evolved under this school

Equestrian portraits of the royal house and the nobility.
Show bold types of expression with broad, fish eyes in human faces
This school is essentially Hindu

Jaipur

Raslila was painted. It became an earthly erotic amusement

Manjusha Art

Manjushas are temple shaped boxes containing eight pillars

The boxes often contain the paintings of gods, goddesses and other characters
The boxes are used in Bishahari Puja
This is practiced in the Bhagalpur region of Bihar

Sarabhiji 2, Shivaji 2,
Mummadi Krishnaraja
Wodeyar

Handicrafts

Channapatna toys
o Wooden toys from Karnataka
Nirmal Toys
o Wooden toys made in the town of Nirmal in Adilabad district
Tanjore doll
o Bobblehead made of terracotta

Sandpainting
Kolam

Drawn using rice powder by female members in front of their home

Mainly in South India

Rangoli

North India. Using sand colors, flour or flowers

Other fine arts

Mehandi
Pichhwai
o Intricate paintings that portray Lord Krishna
o Exist in the town of nathdwara in Rajasthan
Tarakashi
o A type of metalwork from Cuttack

Indian Art Awards

Kalaimamani
o By Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram
Kalidas Samman
o Presented by the MP govt
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
Shilp Guru
o By GOI to a master craftsperson. Started in 2002.
Tulsi Samman
o By MP govt. In fields of art, theatre, dance and music.
Varnashilpi Venkatappa Award
o By Karnataka govt for excellence in painting