24. Paintings-3.pdf

Byjus

1. Miniature Paintings

2. Miniature Paintings
•Word ‘minature’ is derived from Latin word ‘minium’ meaning red
lead paint
•This red lead paint was used in the illuminated manuscripts during
renaissance period
•Miniatures in India have a long tradition
•Many schools developed with distinction of style and composition
•Miniatures are small and detailed paintings

3. Techniques & Requirements of Miniature Paintings
•Painting should not be bigger than 25 square inches in size
•Subject should be painted in not more than one-sixth of the actual
size of the frame
•Human figurine is seen with the side profile
•They usually have bulging eyes, pointed nose and slim waist
•In Rajasthani miniatures the skin skin colourof the characters is
brown, while in Mughal paintings they are generally fairer
•Colourof Krishna is Blue
•The women figurines have long black hair and black eyes
•Dress of both men and women is generally in Medieval Mughal style

4. Early Miniatures
•Miniatures were initially made for books, albums, border illustration
•Made on perishable material like paper, palm leaves, cloth
•As an extension of Large Murals, miniatures seem to cater to the
needs of Royal Courts
•Time period for the early miniatures is 8
th
to 12
th
century CE
•Two Prominent schools of early miniature are:
1.Pala School of Art
2.ApabhramshaSchool of Art

5. Pala School of Art
•Developed during 750-1150 CE as integral part of manuscripts
•Executed on palm leaves or vellum paper
•Buddhist monks used them
•These paintings are characterized by sinuous lines and subdued tones
of the background imagery
•Most of the paintings have lone single figures
•Compositions are simple, no group depictions
•Patronisedby Pala rulers who also patronized Buddhism
•Vajrayana Buddhism also patronized this style
•Prominent painters were Dhimmanand Vitapala

6. Pala School of Art

7. ApabhramsaSchool of Art
•This school traces its origin to Gujarat and Mewarregion
•Prominent during 11
th
and 15
th
Century
•Initially the themes were Jain and later appropriation of Vaisnava
traditions as well
•Domination of Jain iconography
•Later introduction of Gita Govindaand love emotions
•In early phase Jain iconography is on palm leaves
•Later period sees the use of paper
•These paintings were murals in a reduced form

8. •Coloursused had symbolic meaning
•Initial phase sees the use of red, yellow and ochre
•Later phase used bright coloursalong with golden pigments
•Human figurines have fish shaped bulging eyes, a pointed nose and a
double chin
•Gradually angular faces were made
•Figures are usually stiff with careful ornamentation
•Animal and bird figurines are shown as toys
•Most famous examples are Kalpasutraand KalakacharyaKatha of 15
th
Century

9. Apabhramsa
School of Art

10. Miniatures of Transition Period
•Central Asian influences reach India by 13
th
Century
•Western Parts continued with the older traditions
•Vijayanagaradeveloped a distinct style identical to Deccan Style of
Painting
•Colourswere applied in a flat format
•Dress and human figurines were demarcated in black
•Face has a three quarter angle and gives a detached appearance
•Background landscape is full of trees, rocks, and other non-natural
patterns

11. Miniatures During Delhi Sultanate
•Synthesis of Persian and Indian Traditions
•Preference to illustrated manuscripts
•Nimatnama, a book on cookery in Malwaregion is a good example of
synthesis of Indian and Persian styles of miniature illustrations
•Lodhi KhuladarStyle was popular in the region between Delhi and
Jaunpur
•These achievements of Sultanate period Miniature styles fnally
culminated into three major styles: Mughal, Rajput and Deccan

12. Mughal Era Miniature Paintings
•Inspired by Persian Naturalistic Style
•Change in colourpalette, theme and forms
•Focus shifted from Gods to Gorificationsof Patron Rulers
•Royal household and King’s life was popular theme
•Hunting Scenes, Battles, seizes, Court Scenes, Celebrations were the general
themes
•Use of Brilliant colours
•Accuracy of line drawings
•Introduction of the technique of ‘foreshortening’ , objects drawn appeared
closer and smaller than the real ones