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Mewar Miniature Painting of Rajasthan
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Mewar was an important and vital centre of Western India Miniature painting style. Mewār painting, one of the most important schools of Indian miniature painting of the 17th and 18th centuries. It is a school in the Rajasthani style and was developed in the Hindu principality of Mewar. It is also an important part of the Rajput painting style.
The palm-leaf manuscript of Sawagpadikama Sutta Chuni composed in 1260 A D and executed in Ahar in Mewar, is an excellent example of the Jain Miniature Paintings of Mewar. The style has remained almost unchanged even during the hey-days of Maharana Kumbha. The style is full of vitality and dynamism, though crude, and was in full swing by 1500 A D.
The extensive use of yellow and red color is a unique characteristic of the Mewar miniature painting. The works of the school are
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characterized by simple bright colors and direct emotional appeal. The comparatively large number of paintings to which dates and places of origin can be ascribed make possible a more comprehensive picture of the development of painting in Mewar than in any other Rajasthani school.
Illustrated manuscripts produced at Chittor, Delwada, Ahar and Chawand from 13th century onwards provide a continuous history of the Mewar School. A Ragamala set painted at Chawand in 1605 AD by Nisardi is a landmark of this school followed by many masterpieces of Manohar and others produced under Maharana Jagat Singh.
The Mewar School continued through the 1700s and into the 1800s, the output being quite prolific. Although religious themes continued to be popular, more and more paintings concentrated on portraiture and the life of the ruler.
Under Maharana Bhim Singh (1778-1828), the foremost Court Artist was Chokha. During the reign of Maharana Jawan Singh (1828-1838), Mewar painting continued to flourish, with Western-style portraiture of notable figures supplementing the traditional style of hunts and courtly occasions. The paintings of Kundanlal Mishri (1866-1926) were famous in Udaipur and Mewar, while in Nathdwara, Pichhavai paintings were the most famous.
These miniature paintings are different in size and material. Paper, silk and wood was used, for more valuable paintings also marble and ivory. The colors were made from minerals and vegetables, precious stones as well as pure silver and gold. The preparing and mixing of color was an elaborate process. It took weeks, sometimes months, to get the desired results.
Multi-painting sets of Ramayana, Gita-Govinda, Sur Sagar, Arsh Ramayana and Rasikapriya were prepared in an unmistakably bold, colorful and well defined style. These were followed by many large court paintings showing the Maharana in outings and hunting expeditions or attending religious festivities. Portraits, sets of Ragamala paintings, divinities and scenes of folk legends were also produced in large numbers.
Images sourced from Google Search Engine with the term "Mewar Miniature" |
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