Introduced to the nation during the time of the Mughals, who traveled from Persia. They first appeared in the sixteenth century. The line work in Indian miniature paintings is renowned for being highly complex. And vivid hues that produce a charming image. To preserve the images of the regal celebrations they hosted, Rajput people in Rajasthan would commission this style of art. Seven schools of miniature painting evolved. Below, we’ll investigate this topic using some of their well-known paintings as visual examples:
Pala School:
This institution, which dates to the eighth century, emphasizes the use of color symbolism. The Buddhist Tantric ceremonial motifs that were frequently depicted on palm leaves are a defining feature of this school. A variety of ideas, painting techniques, and color schemes are combined to create a single artwork. because this school depicted tantra and Buddhism in popular culture. Later, this school was brought outside of India and quickly rose to fame in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma, and Tibet. The pressure fluctuations of the natural hues used to paint are a distinguishing aspect of this style.
Jain School:
This school, which was established in the 11th century, was another one that placed a strong focus on religion. The distinctive thick golden outlines were what separated them from other schools. The figurines’ big eyes, snub noses, and square hands were further features. The images or scenes in these schools were frequently associated with religious writings since this school placed a strong focus on religion. However, this would make the Jain miniature paintings highly text-heavy, as is their custom. This school may have been the first institution to switch from palm leaves to paper for this purpose.
Mughal School:
During Akbar’s rule in the 16th century, a time when the arts were greatly valued, this institution had great success. One may almost compare the Mughal school to a synthesis of the Persian and Indian styles of miniature painting. Because of the natural influences and thin, delicate paint strokes used in these paintings, they appeared fragile. These paintings often included portraits in addition to images from the royal court, wars, hunting excursions, and kingdom fauna. As a result, the Mughal miniature paintings’ style altered with each change in the monarch.
Rajasthan School:
The Mughal miniature painting style suffered during Aurangzeb, which led to the emergence of the Rajasthan school. This school includes a variety of sub-schools as well, including the Mewar School, Dhundar School, and Kullu School, among others, depending on the location. Additionally, this school was all things royal. Each of the sub-school themes was also centered on the monarchs and their regal lives. These students may have created the most colorful tiny paintings. Although each section of the picture has natural hues and vivid backdrops. The use of precious and semi-precious stones to enhance the delicate details of the painting was therefore this school’s distinctive feature.
Pahari School:
The hilly kingdoms of North Western India created their school, drawing inspiration from Mughal and Rajasthani art. The Guler School, Basohli School, Chamba School, and other sub-schools were among those at this school. The Himalayan scenery was frequently shown in the backgrounds of these schools’ paintings, while each sub-school had its distinctive style. The delicate brushstrokes of this school were influenced by Mughal art. The elaborately decorated, hand-painted frames that encircled each tiny artwork also had a Rajasthani influence.
Orissa School:
The 17th century saw the founding of this school. The majority of the paintings depicted Lord Krishna and his amusing hobbies from his time on Earth. These enjoyable activities are affectionately referred to as “Krishna Leela” by his admirers. Rich, vibrant hues were employed to try to capture his personality on the canvas. In contrast to all other schools of miniature painting, the Orissa school’s brushstrokes are the boldest. These paintings of Krishna and Radha frequently include the majestic scenery of Eastern India as their backdrop. As a result, only palm leaves were frequently used for these artworks.
Also read: 7 Mesmerizing works of Vincent Van Gogh
Deccan College
This school, which was founded most recently, originated in South India, namely in the cities of Hyderabad, Tanjore, and Golconda. So this school started to exist in the 19th century. You may see Ottoman, Iranian, and Persian cultural influences in the miniature paintings of this style.
It was in this school that paintings of sensual female figures first appeared. Large eyes, high foreheads, lovely features, and a curved physique were all painted on them. All of the artwork’s components were painted with vibrant hues overall. In any Deccan School miniature painting, the hues red and orange were a must-have. Another distinguishing feature was symmetry since each component of the paintings was meticulously measured, drawn to size, and symmetrical
