Know India Series ... Episode 2nd...

• Paintings :

• Cave Paintings :
• murals of Ajanta, Elloras, Bagh, Sittanavasal
• Ajanta -- period of Mahayana -- life and teaching of lord Buddha, Jataka series.
• Ellora --- lord vishnu and goddess laxmi, second Shaiva holy men, Apsara.
• Bagh -- on bank of Bagh river, 5th to 7th century, represent most exquisite traditions of Indian art form.
• Sittanavasal -- Jain monestery, near Trichy based on pandyan period 9th century, theme --- animal, fish, ducks, 2 dancing figure.
• Madhubani :
• originated in Maithili Bihar, on wall of homes by women --- thoughts, hopes, dreams.
• themes --- around Krishna, Rama, Laxmi, Shiva, Durga, Saraswati, Sun, Moon, Tulasi.
• Miniature :
• handmade painting, small size.
• colours are made from vegetables, minerals, stones, silver.
• theme -- musical codes of Indian classical Ragas.
• evolution in western Himalayas, 17th century.
• Mughals -- introduced Persian tradition in miniature.
• Schools -- Pala, Orissa, Jain, Mughal, Rajstani, Nepali.
• Mughal :
• combo of Indian, Persian, Islamic styles.
• 16th to 19th century.
• Themes -- battles, court scenes, receptions, stories, hunting, wildlife and portraits.
• Victoria and Albert Museums in London House.
• evolution during Humayun --- who petronise -- Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd-us-samad.
• earliest Mughal style -- Tatinam i.e. Tale of Parrot.
• Decline under Aurangzeb regime.
• Mysore :
• under reign of Woddeyar.
• use of thinner gold leaves.
• themes--- god and goddess.
• Pahari :
• Himachal, J&K---- name to rajput paintings.
• 17th to 19th century.
• with emergence of Bhakti movements and influenced by Rajput, guj., Deccan paintings.
• Theme -- Shiva-Shakta, Krishna and Rama.
• two categories --- Basohli and Kullu -- styles influenced by Chaurpanchasika
• and another -- Guler and Kangra -- based  on Cooler colors and refinement.
• Basohli --- Ravi river bank --- Devi series paintings.
• Guler --- common themes -- Landscape.
• Kullu --- theme -- Bhagavata Puranas.
• Rajput :
• 16th and 17th century.
• influence of Mughal painting.
• Theme -- Ramayana, Mahabharata and Krishna.
• Schools -- Bikaner, Bundi-Kota Kalam, Jaipur, Kishengarh, Marwar, Mewar, Raagamala.
• Tanjore :
• TN -- Thanjaur.
• feature -- dense composition, surface richness, vibrant colors --- distinguish it from others.
• 16th century under Cholas reign.
• Marathas, Nayaks, Rajus communities of Tanjore and Trichy, Naidus of Madurai patronized.
• Theme -- Hindu god and Goddess.
• Kalamkari :
• Kalam -- Pen and Kari -- Work.
• paintings using organic dyes on cloths.
• themes -- Hindu mythology.
• flourished @ Kalahasti and Masulipattanam.
• Karrupur --- style of Kalamkari developed in Thanjaur during Marathas reign.
• Pithoro :
• by tribals --- folk painting.
• way of appeasing gods not decorative wall piece.
• specially by Rathawa caste of Gujrat.