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Rajasthan is
one of the richest states in the country in the field of arts and crafts.
A host of schools of miniature painting thrive in Rajasthan and, to a certain extent, they are a quaint mixture of Mughal and indigenous Indian styles. The Indian style dates back to the Jain manuscripts of western India, now preserved in the temples of Rajasthan and Gujarat. These manuscripts are inscribed on palm leaves and are illustrated with stylized miniatures, elements of which are obvious in the miniatures of
today. Art flourished in Rajasthan as far back as 2nd-1st centuries BC and continued over the centuries.
Mostly the kings and their nobles of Rajasthan were patrons of arts and crafts and they encouraged their craftsmen in activities ranging from wood and marble carving to weaving, pottery and painting. The cave paintings, terracotta and other stone sculptures excavated at different sites
narrates the rich tradition of arts flourished in the ancient times. The
arts of Rajasthan can broadly be classified as:
1. Wall painting
2 Stone carving.
3. Painting on Cloths.
4. Painting on paper, palm leafs.
5. Painting on Sandalwood and Wood.
6. Painting on Ivory, Lac and Glass, pottery, leather etc.
7 Human body as godna, henna etc.
Wall painting : The paintings on the walls of palaces and the inner chambers of forts, havelies (the painted havelies of Shekhawati are well-known),
were very popular in the mogul period and in British periods in
Rjasthan. Influenced by the surroundings, these medieval paintings have their own unique styles - the hills and valleys, deserts, places and forts, gardens, court scenes, religious processions and those highlighting scenes from the life of Lord Krishna were the recurrent themes of these paintings.
A 30,000 sq km open-air art gallery, in the region called Shekawati comprises the districts of
Jhunjhunu, Churu, and Sikar in northwest Rajasthan. Shekawati
towns as Mukundgarh, Nawalgarh, Fatehpur, Ramgarh, Mandawa, Bissau, Mahansar, and Dundlod, lies a
concentration of fresco paintings in grand old edifices, called havelis, now virtually deserted.
These havelis were an extension of the royal culture of the rich in this region.
The business community at that time had a lot of wealth and they used to compete with each other by constructing the best haveli with the best paintings.
Though the number of havelis in existence is a matter of speculation, Rajasthan Tourisms
estimates that there are at least 5,000 havelis in the region.
and it encouraging people to open up their locked havelis to tourists. The government is also deputing personnel from the archaeological department to preserve, maintain, and conserve the paintings, as also to train the local populace to take care of them and their havelis.
Different schools of paintings:
From the 16th century onwards there flourished different schools of paintings like the Mewar school, the
Bundi-Kota kalam, the Jaipur, Bikaner, Kishengarh and Marwar schools.
The main schools of painting flourished in Rajasthan from 15th
century onwards are:
Mewar School of Painting: This school of painting
flourished in the early 17th centaury at the time of Maharana Amar
Singh. The paintings have their own unique styles and the
theme of these paintings were Ramayan epic, Mahabharata, Ragmala,
Bihari- Satsai, Prathvi raj Raso, etc. The few prominent artist of this
school are Sahibbudin, Manoher, gangaram, Kriparam, Bhanroram,
Shivdutt, Jagnnath etc.
Kishangarh School of Painting: Kishangarh School of
painting was flourished in the middle of 18th centaury.
The Kishengarh school is best known for its Bani Thani paintings. A totally different style with highly exaggerated features - long necks, large, almond shaped eyes, long fingers and the use of subdued colors. The originality of style can be credited to its royal patron - Raja Sawant Singh, better known as Nagari Das. The usual court scenes have also been painted
here but it was Nagari Das and his love for the singer-poet Bani Thani that gave this tiny state the most refined and delicate paintings.
The prominent artist were Chotu, Amirchand, Nihalchand, Dhanna etc. Beautiful
highlighting scenes from the life of Lord Krishna were the recurrent themes of these paintings.
First time Arikdikson put these picture in 1943 before the world.
Marwar School of Painting:
Bikaneri Scool of Painting:
Bundi School of Painting:
Alwar School of Painting:
Nathdwara School of Painting:
Pichwai:
Phar:
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