Learn Indian Paintings in an easy way

1. India has a long tradition of painting since time memorable. Paintings are found from the stone age, Ancient, Medieval and British period. Development and progress of Paintings were made by private People ( Popular art ) and Kings ( State art ).

2. Paintings in India are categorised into 
   1. Prehistoric Paintings
   2. Murals Paintings
   3. Miniature Paintings

3. Prehistoric Paintings
   1. These paintings are made on Rocks by stone age people.
      1. Petroglyph means Painting on the rocks or stones by using sharp stone tools.
   2. These paintings are further divided into 
      1. Palaeolithic age Painting
      2. Mesolithic age Paintings
      3. Neolithic age Paintings

3. In India, Ghosh, Anderson, Mitra, and Cockburn are known for discovering early caves with India paintings.

4. Kumaon Hills 
   1. Kumaon Hills has more than one lack of prehistoric paintings.
   2. These hills located in Lakhudiyar, Uttarakhand near river Suyal.
      1. Three types of colors are found – White, black and red ochre (Colors).
      2. Human paintings have features like Hand-Linked dancing figure, Stick like features.
      3. Animal paintings have features like-  long-snouted Animal, a fox, lizard with many legs. 
         1. It is observed that these were made for the purpose of subsistence and not for worship.
      4. Geometric pattern paintings also found like wavy lines, figures, groups of dots etc.

5. Colour history 
   1. By analysing overlapping of colours on the rocks, Black was the Earliest, then Red and White came into the picture.
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5. Palaeolithic age Paintings
   1. The theme of Paleo paintings is Hunting and gathering.
   2. Colour used was Vegetable colour.
   3. Bhimbetka caves
      1. They are the oldest caves with paintings. The time period is from 1 Lakh BC to 1000 AD and includes Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods. 
      2. Bhimbetka caves are located in Laakhajuhar forest, Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh.
      3. Paintings are Discovered by Dr Vikram S. Wakankar of the Vikram University of Ujjain in 1958.
      4. Local people believed that Pandavas used caves.
      5. Oldest paintings belong to Paleolithic age. These are a linear representation of animal and the stick-like human figure.
         1. Colours used for Dancers is Green and Dark red for hunters.
         2. Red and white colour were used mostly in Bhimbetka, at time yellow and green also used.
         3. These colours were prepared by using natural minerals, plant extract and wooden charcoal. Animal fat mixed with colour to make them permanent.

6. Bhimbetka is included in UNESCO’S WHS in 2003.

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6. Mezolitihic age paintings
   1. In this period prehistoric painting art has reached its Climax.
   2. Colour used was made from Blood ( for Dominating and longevity ) and Bone marrow.
   3. Microliths, Sharp tools were used to cut rocks for paintings.
   4. The theme selected for painting is Social gathering ( not just gathering ), community sense developed—sexual union.
      1. Phallus and Yoni paintings are found.
   5. Scenes of communal dance, birds, pregnant women, men carrying the dead animal, drinking scene and hunting scene, mother and child were also found.
      1. Smaller paintings show progress in paintings.
      2. Hunting in groups, armed with a barbed spear.
   6. Other features of Mesolithic Paintings are –
      1. Pointed sticks, arrows and bows.
      2. Traps and snare used.
      3. Elaborate headdress, mask.
      4. Birds and animals. Mesolithic artists loved to paint animals.
      5. Fear and tenderness or love was there while hunting.
      6. Man – stylish.
      7. Women- nude and clothed.
      8. Animal naturalistic paintings.
      9. Children- playing.
      10. Community dance.
      11. Fruit and honey gathering.
      12. Hand, fist.

7. Neolithic Paintings
   1. Neolithic paintings are less significant due to many reasons.
   2. Granite rocks of Andhra and Karnataka provide a platform.
   3. Sites:- Kupgallu, Piklihal and Tekkalakota, 3 types of painting discovered from here
      1. Painting in White.
      2. Painting in red ochre over white background.
      3. Painting in red ochre.

4. Murals Paintings
   1. Murals paintings are those paintings which are done on walls of Temples, caves, sculpture, etc.
   2. Some know places famous for murals are as follows
      1. Ajanta Cave.
      2. Badami Murals
         1. Chalukyan Paintings
      3. Sittanavasal cave Murals in Tanjore
      4. Brihadeshwara temple
      5. Lepakshi Paintings
      6. Kerala Murals

3. Ajanta Paintings, Maharastra
   1. Padampani, Vajrapani and Flying Apsara paintings are most famous. (Important)
   2. 1st phase of Ajanta painting was in 2nd CBC. Under Vakataka rulers second phase started in 5-6 CAD.
   3. Purely Buddhist paintings are painted in Ajanta
   4. Chitrasutra 
      1. Chitrasutra of Vishnu Dharm Ottara Purana  – text contain all about Ajanta Paintings such as stories and scenes.
   5. Fresco ( Vegetable or natural ) and decomural (oil color) colors are used.

4. Badami Paintings
   1. The Chalukya king, Mangalesha, patronised the excavation and paintings of the Badami caves

2. Badami Cave have palace scenes. Like king family in the place.  Ex. Paintings of Kirtivarman, the son of Pulakesin I seated with his wife and feudatories watching a dance scene.
3. These are Extension of mural painting from Ajanta to Badami in South India. 
4. Badami Paintings belong to Vaishnava traditions.
   1. The inscription in Cave No.4 mentions the date 578–579 CE, describes the beauty of the cave and includes the dedication of the image of Vishnu. Thus it may be presumed that the cave was excavated in the same era. Therefore, the cave is popularly known as the Vishnu Cave.

5. Sittanavasal cave, Tamil nadu
   1. Located in Tamil Nadu, famous rock-cut caves are known for the paintings in the Jain temples. These murals have close relation with Bagh and Ajanta paintings.
      1. The paintings are not only on the walls but also on the ceiling and pillars. The paintings are with the theme of Jain Samavasarana.
6. Pandya Paintings
   1. Thirumalai Puram –  Varandha was painted with Dancing celestial nymphs. Color used is Vermillion Red with White Background.
   2. Example is Jaina caves at Sittanavasal.

7. Chola or Brihadeshwara temple, Tanjore
   1. Brihadeswara paintings has religious as well as mythological scene.
      1. King Raja Raja I, also portrayed in many paintings.
      2. Birds and animals were also depicted.
   2. The level of defining Chola paintings is very high, these paintings survived for more than 1000 years without suffering much damage.
   3. Fergusson said that Chola artists planned like giants and executed like Jewellers.

8. Vijaynagar or Lepakshi Paintings
   1. Shiva temple paintings belong to Vijaynagar period.
   2. Early Vijanagar  style painting

1. 14 centuary Tirupara Kundram temple , Trichy.
2. Theme – Virupaksha Shiva temple.
3. Paintings on Ceiling – Mahabharat, Ramayana, Dynastic History and Vidyaranya, Guru of Bukka.

3. Lepakshi temple is located in  Hindupur, Andhra. ( painting of laddies with Parvati ).
   1. Shiv temple is in Vijaynagar style.
4. Lepakshi – Dancing Apsara,  ( Jatayu Ravana Ram story ).

9. Nayaka paintings
   1. Nayaka Paintings of the 17th and 18th are seen in Thiruparankundram, Srirangam and Tiruvarur paintings.
   2. Early paintings depict Vardhamana Mahavira life. Later paintings depicts Mahabharata and Ramayana and Krishna-leela.
   3. Sri Krishna temple at Chengam in Arcot (TN) is an perfect example.
   4. Chidambaram temple 
      1. It has painting of Shiva in Bhikshatana asan.
      2. Krishna in Mohini form
   5. Nayaka and Vijayanagar paintings are 2D images.
   6. Nayaka painting are extension of Vijayangar.

10. Kerala Murals
    1. Time period is from 16th century to 18th century.
    2. It has elements of Nayaka and VIjaynagar paintings.
    3. Language used is Kathakali and Kalam ezhutu.
    4. 3D human figures were painted.
    5. Local Ramayan plus Mahabharat scenes were depicted.
    6. Paintings are found at many palaces such as
       1. Dutch Palace in Kochi, Kerala.
       2. Krishna Puram palace in Kayakulam, Kerala.
       3. Padmanabha Puram Palace, Kerala.

7. Early Kerala Phase
   1. In Matenchari temple Kerala Murals reached its climax.

8. Mature Kerala Phase
   1. Pundareekapuram Krishna temple – Krishna Playing flute , accompanied Gopikas.
   2. Other places of Muture kerala phase are
      1. Panyamarakang
      2. Thrikodithanam
      3. Triprayar Sri Rama Temple
      4. Tristar Vadakkunnathan temple.

11. Folk or Local Murals

1. Pithoro paintings belongs to Rajasthan and Gujarat.
2. Madhubani from  North Bihar –  
   1. Madhubani wall painting is divided in two types
      1. Arpan (anywhere except bedroom).
      2. Kohbar (erotic).
   2. Color – Rice floor plus other colors. 
   3. There is no interstitial space in painting.
3. Pattachitra Mural – 
   1. It is done by Patidar tribe of Bihar and Bengal. Theme -local folklore. 
   2. It is clothbased scroll painting, in Odisha and West Bengal. Intricate details as well as mythological narratives and folktales are inscribed in these paintings.

4. Patuas 
   1. The Patuas are painters in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha in India and parts of Bangladesh.

5. Warli Mural – MH, Kohli (fisherman tribe). Theme – Daily mundane topics.

5. Miniature Paintings
   1. Miniature paintings has drawing of size 1/6th of the original thing.
   2. These are made on Perishable things like Paper, Cloth and Palm leaves.
   3. This paintings depicts minute details. 
   4. These paintings are invented to solve difficulities of enormous wall paintings, developed between 8th and 12th centuries.
   5. There are Two prominent school of paintings in India before Mughals Pala School of Art and Apabhramsa School of art.

1. Mughal period shows immense development and progress in the fied of Miniature paintings.
2. Apabharansh
   1. Mostly done in Gujarat and Mewar region in Rajasthan.
   2. TIme period is 11th – 15th century.
   3. Initially jain paintings were made and later it adopted Vaishanava paintings.
   4. Animal and bird are represented as toys. Famous example is Kalpasutra and Kalakacharya Katha from the 15th century.

7. Pala School of Art 
   1. This school is Found at libraries of Odantapuri, Vikramashila and Somarupa universities.
   2. Purely Buddhist in nature.

8. Sultanate Period paintings
   1. Delhi Sultan’s did not favour favoured paintings and hence setback for Indian paintings.

9. Mughal Period paintings
   1. It is a style, generally confined on the book and done in miniatures, and which progress and took shape during Mughal Empire 16th and 19th centuries.It is heavily influenced by Persian miniatures, and in turn influenced several Indian styles, including the Rajput, Pahari and Deccan styles of painting.

6. Rajputana School of Painting
   1. Rajputana paintings can be broadly divided into Court, Literary paintings and Folk paintings.
   2. Mewar School
      1. Flourished in Chittoor, Udaipur, Nathdwara, Deogarh, Sirohi, Sawar under Sisodias.
      2. Very little or no Mughal influence is seen in this style of paintings.
   3. Amber School
      1. Flourished under Kachwahas in Amber, Jaipur, Alwar.
      2. Majorly influenced by Mughal paintings.
      3. Developed and progress under Man Singh.
   4. Marwar
      1. Flourished under Rathores in Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Pali.
      2. With time mughal influence  Jodhpur school of rajputi paintings.

5. Kishangarh School
   1. Kishangarh Rana was influenced by Sagun bhakti. The famous Bani Thani painting belongss to Kishangarh. paintings depict Radha and Krishna in gardens and celebrating festivals etc. It was very much influenced by bhakti and the focus is on the bodily beauty of Radha.

7. Other paintings during later Mguhal Period are
   1. Pahari school flourished in Himachal and Uttrakhand.
   2. Basauli School of Painting in Jammu Kashmir.
   3. Guler or East Kangra School of Painting.