Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Painting
Around 1500 years ago artists covered the walls and ceilings of the Ajanta caves, in Maha-
rashtra, with scenes from the Buddha's past lives. The figures are endowed with an unusual
freedom and grace, and contrast with the next major style that emerged from this part of In-
dia in the 11th century.
The Indo-Persian style - characterised by geometric design coupled with flowing form -
developed from Islamic royal courts, although the depiction of the elongated eye is one
convention that seems to have been retained from indigenous sources. The Persian influen-
ce blossomed when artisans fled to India following the 1507 Uzbek attack on Herat (in
present-day Afghanistan), and with trade and gift-swapping between the Persian city of
Shiraz, an established centre for miniature production, and Indian provincial sultans.
The 1526 victory by Babur at the Battle of Panipat ushered in the era of the Mughals in
India. Although Babur and his son Humayun were both patrons of the arts, it's Humayun's
son Akbar who is generally credited with developing the characteristic Mughal style. This
painting style, often in colourful miniature form, largely depicts court life, architecture,
battle and hunting scenes, as well as detailed portraits. Akbar recruited artists from far and
wide, and artistic endeavour first centred on the production of illustrated manuscripts (top-
ics varied from history to mythology), but later broadened into portraiture and the glorifica-
tion of everyday events. European painting styles influenced some artists, and this influen-
ce occasionally reveals itself in experiments with motifs and perspective.
Akbar's son Jehangir also patronised painting, but he preferred portraiture, and his fas-
cination with natural science resulted in a vibrant legacy of paintings of flowers and anim-
als. Under Jehangir's son Shah Jahan, the Mughal style became less fluid and, although the
bright colouring was eye-catching, the paintings lacked the vigour of before.
Various schools of miniature painting (small paintings crammed with detail) emerged in
Rajasthan from around the 17th century. The subject matter ranged from royal processions
to shikhar (hunting expeditions), with many artists influenced by Mughal styles.
Mural painting in particular flourished throughout the south from the 17th century, with
temple art - drawing on multifarious historical and mythological themes - especially pro-
lific. By the 19th century, painting in North India was notably influenced by Western styles
(especially English watercolours), giving rise to what has been dubbed the Company
School, which had its centre in Delhi.
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