PAHARI SCHOOL OF PAINTING

RAAHEL (1137)
SEC PRESENTATION
CONTENTS OF PRESENTATION:
- general description

- (sub-schools, map)

- patronage

- families of artists

- Themes

- techniques ,colours

- legacy and something to think about!

MAP
INDIAN PAINTINGS FROM THE
PUNJAB HILLS

A Survey and History Pahari

of

Miniature Painting by G. ARCHER

.

(PAGE 7)
-sub-schools:
A. Basholi- less intense

B. Chamba- traditional crafts as well

C. Kangra- Sansar chand very famous

D. Nurpur
What are classified as Pahari paintings?
E. Kangra

Guler
Sub-schools:
F.

G. Mankot

H. garhwal
Time-period
families of artists known as ‘Kalams’
Family secrets
‘Kalam’ like music gharanas
Tarkhans’ to ‘Chitrera’
Family secrets
THEMES:
eternal love of Hindu Dieties
Landscape and greenery
Radha’s devotion, krishan Leela
Gita Govinda
Nala Damayanti theme
Portraits of hill chiefs

TECHNIQUE AND COLOUR

natural colours
First landscape was drawn, then humans, then
filled with colours
 PATRONAGE
- B.N.Goswamy ( ‘levels of patronage in Pahari paintings): -importance of knowing the

psychological relation between patron and artist

1) Rulers of the state:

-sansar chand of Kangra

- Govardhan chand of ruler

-Raj singh of Chamba

-Ranjit dev of Jammu

-Sidh sen of mandi

- ratites wanted to become ‘chitrera’ from ‘tarkhans’

- inscriptional evidence and revenue records: lang grants and occasional cash rewards to these artists

2) queen-mother, brothers of rulers, nobility, eg.: balwant singh(jagirdar) patronised Nainsukh, Mian dan singh

3) religious establishments also patronised artists-paintings of mahants,

- ‘company paintings’: Journalistic interests

(BRIEF) HISTORIOGRAPHY:
- S.N.GUPTA- lahore museum catalogue(1920s)

- N.C.Mehta

- O.C.Ganguly

- W.G.Archer’s first essay

- M.S.Randhawa

- B.N.Goswasamy’s doctoral thesis

- social context of artists to individual artists

LEGACY, WHAT TROUBLES US?
B.N.Goswamy
Background of artists
Conservation of these arts

THANK YOU!