Different schools of art compared

Table 1
Mughal Pahari Rajasthani/Rajput Madhubani/Mithila Manjusha/Angika Tanjore
Origin Earlier Persian blend.
Became Indian under Akbar.
Originated in the sub-
Himalayan kingdoms of 19
th

century.
Early 16
th
century. Various
sub-schools existed
Done traditionally by the
women in the villages near
the town of Madhubani. It
originated as floor and wall
paintings.

Essentially a folk tradition
17
th
century under the
patronage of Tanjores
Maratha rulers
Type Mostly in miniature form Mostly done in miniature
form

Themes Document of life at the
Mughal court, battles, hunt,
arrival of embassies,
festivities

Portrait paintings developed
under Jahangir
Love of man for woman.
Symbolised by Krishna and
Radha
Strongly influenced by the
contemporary literary and
musical forms, and draw
upon their motifs

<details below>
Nature and Hindu religious
motifs
Usually portrayed deities.
Vishnu,Shiva and Krishna
Exceptional Point Was originally practiced by
Brahmins and Kayasthas. Later
SC women also adopted it. But
the themes of the two are
different. While higher castes
depicted mythological
themes, SCs experimented
with day-to-day scenes.

Characteristics Realism is the keynote of this
style

Artists had made contacts
with Western art. Influence
can be seen.
Bold and intense Basohli
Delicate and lyrical; Tones
subdued and lines exquisitely
fine - Kangra
Decorate in their
composition and colour
scheme

Landscape lacks the
naturalism of the Mughal
school

Two dimensional imagery.
Colors derived from plants.

No space is left empty. Gaps
are filled by painting flowers,
plants animals and even
geometric shapes.
Snakes are a prominent
feature
Artists adhered strictly to
iconography as these
paintings were made for
ritual and worship and not for
display as is mostly the case
today.
Technique Used wider canvas Traditionally done as murals
on mud walls. Now is also
done one cloth, paper and
canvas
Made on jackwood pasted
with unbleached cloth to
which a mixture of limestone,
chalk powder, gum and
honey are applied in layers on
a sketch of the icon. Extra
coats given to raise some
parts of the painting.
Jewellery etc are put.
Major Artists Basawan, Daswanth,
Kesudasa, Mansur
Jagdamba Devi, Mahasundari
Devi

Major Works Akbarnama illustrations; rare
birds and animals Falcon
(CS Museum, Bombay), Red
Blossoms floral painting
Jodhpur and Nagaur
paintings.

Major schools Basohli, Guler, Kangra Malwa, Mewar (Ragamala
paintings), Marwar,
Kishangarh, Jaipur, Bundi,
Kotah
Bharni style, Kachni style
Patrons Akbar, Jahangir Raja Kripal Singh (Bahsoli) Sarabhiji 2, Shivaji 2,
Mummadi Krishnaraja
Wodeyar

Rajasthani Art Schools
Mewar (Ragamala)
themes from the life of Krishna and his frolic with the gopis; heroes and heroines of Hindi poetry.
Scenes from Bhagvata and Ramayana
Landscape lacks the naturalism of the Mughal school
Marwar
Genuine Rajput style evolved under this school
Equestrian portraits of the royal house and the nobility.
Show bold types of expression with broad, fish eyes in human faces
This school is essentially Hindu
Jaipur
Raslila was painted. It became an earthly erotic amusement

Manjusha Art
Manjushas are temple shaped boxes containing eight pillars
The boxes often contain the paintings of gods, goddesses and other characters
The boxes are used in Bishahari Puja
This is practiced in the Bhagalpur region of Bihar

Handicrafts
Channapatna toys
o Wooden toys from Karnataka
Nirmal Toys
o Wooden toys made in the town of Nirmal in Adilabad district
Tanjore doll
o Bobblehead made of terracotta
Sandpainting

Kolam
Drawn using rice powder by female members in front of their home
Mainly in South India
Rangoli
North India. Using sand colors, flour or flowers

Other fine arts
Mehandi
Pichhwai
o Intricate paintings that portray Lord Krishna
o Exist in the town of nathdwara in Rajasthan
Tarakashi
o A type of metalwork from Cuttack

Indian Art Awards
Kalaimamani
o By Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram
Kalidas Samman
o Presented by the MP govt
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
Shilp Guru
o By GOI to a master craftsperson. Started in 2002.
Tulsi Samman
o By MP govt. In fields of art, theatre, dance and music.
Varnashilpi Venkatappa Award
o By Karnataka govt for excellence in painting