Hinduism - Where Do The Hindu Miniature Paintings Originate?

Hindu miniature painting has its roots in the Moghul court's royal art, when miniature painting and portraiture were well-established genres.

Other hubs for miniature painting arose in the seventeenth century, perhaps pushed on by Moghul painters seeking patronage in Hindu vassal states.

The miniature genre developed to encompass additional topics such as the portrayal of musical modes known as ragas, which are connected with certain periods and/or seasons, but portraiture and court settings remained significant.

Hindu religious iconography was another major topic, reflecting the impact of the devotional (bhakti) movement, which was in full bloom in northern India at the time.

The fabled deeds of the deity Krishna and depictions of the god Shiva dominated religious topics at first.

These two key topics were combined at times.

Manuscripts were also illustrated with miniature paintings, combining literature, art, music, and religious symbols.

Rajasthani, Deccani, and Pahari schools of Hindu miniature painting may be generally classified into three groups, each of which corresponds to a geographical region.

The Rajasthani was the first developed school, flourishing in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in the Malwa area of Madhya Pradesh and the tiny kingdoms that bordered it.

The flat perspective of the Rajasthani style is characterized by vibrant bands of color that often serve as a background to the painting.

The Deccani style developed in central India and was quite similar to Moghul royal art.

The Pahari ("mountain") style thrived in the Shiwalik Hills north and west of Delhi in the eighteenth and nineteenth century.

The Pahari style initially emerged in Basohli, where the Rajasthani school's influence can be seen, and eventually spread to Jammu, Guler, Garhwal, and Kangra.

The developed Pahari style varies from the Rajasthani style in that it emphasizes more linear drawing, perhaps inspired by European art, and a more restricted use of color, giving the paintings a more lyrical air.