Masterpieces of Indian Miniature Art: Rajasthan, Pahari, Mughal
Rajasthan School Miniature Paintings
Maru Ragini (Mewar Sub-School)
Key Details
- Title: Maru Ragini
- Artist: Sahibdin
- Sub-School: Mewar, Rajasthan School of Miniature Paintings
- Medium: Tempera on paper
- Collection: National Museum, New Delhi
Subject Matter
The painting Maru Ragini is a vertical painting from the Ragmala series. This Rag-Ragini depicts the famous folk love story of Dhola-Maru.
Description
In this painting, Dhola and Maru are shown traveling on a camel through a desert. Dhola is riding the camel and looking back at Maru. Dhola is dressed in typical aristocratic attire with a sword and a turban on his head. Maru is also shown in typical Rajasthani costume.
The background is in shades of yellow and brown, depicting the vast desert. The camel is shown in a walking position with lifted legs, conveying motion. The camel is painted in different shades of brown.
Chaugan Players (Jodhpur Sub-School)
Key Details
- Title: Chaugan Players
- Artist: Dana
- Sub-School: Jodhpur, Rajasthan School of Miniature Paintings
- Medium: Tempera on paper
- Collection: National Museum, New Delhi
Subject Matter
This is a horizontal painting in which four princesses are playing the polo game (*Chaugan*) with their two maids.
Description
Six female figures have been painted, riding on their horses, playing polo. Four princesses are playing polo with their two attendants. In the upper part of the painting, two princesses are shown to differentiate them from others. Both are elegantly sitting on their horses, facing each other, holding the reins of the horses in one hand and polo sticks in their other hand. Their horses are facing each other too with their uplifted legs, showing motion.
The other four companions are also shown playing polo with them. Their horses are shown running in the opposite direction, but they are facing each other. All sticks are shown touching the red polo ball.
Krishna on Swing (Bikaner Sub-School)
Key Details
- Title: Krishna on Swing
- Artist: Nuruddin
- Sub-School: Bikaner, Rajasthan School of Miniature Paintings
- Medium: Tempera on paper
- Collection: National Museum, New Delhi
Subject Matter
This painting is based on the poem “Rasik Priya” written by Keshavdas. This painting is divided into two parts, each part depicting a different scene of Radha and Krishna.
Description
This painting is divided into two parts. In the upper part, Krishna is shown sitting on a well-decorated hexagonal swing, and Radha is sitting just opposite in the balcony, on a red carpet.
Radha (Bani-Thani) – Kishangarh Masterpiece
Key Details
- Title: Radha – (Bani-Thani)
- Artist: Nihal Chand
- Sub-School: Kishangarh, Rajasthan School of Miniature Paintings
- Medium: Tempera on paper
- Collection: National Museum, New Delhi
Subject Matter
The painting portrays a lady of elegance and grace. Bani-Thani was a singer and poet in Kishangarh during the time of King Sawant Singh.
Description
Radha (Bani Thani) of Kishangarh is the most famous miniature painting of the Rajasthani school. In 1760 A.D., the famous artist Nihal Chand made it very beautifully. The Government of India has issued a postal stamp of this miniature painting. The Bani Thani painting is famous for its love story. Bani Thani was Sawant Singh’s muse for the poetry he wrote, celebrating the love of Radha and Krishna. He writes about her in a poem, Bihari Jas Chandrika, which became the basis for Nihal Chand’s painting of Bani Thani, thus representing a blending of poetry and painting.
In this painting, Radha is painted in a profile face in peach color. Her face is elongated with a high and sloping forehead, a pointed long nose, thin red lips, and a pointed chin. Her wagtail-like big eyes with arch-like eyebrows enhance the whole painting. Her long curly hair is shown flowing down her shoulders, and the curl of her hair on her cheek adds beauty to the painting.
Bharat Meets Rama at Chitrakut (Jaipur Sub-School)
Key Details
- Title: Bharat Meets Rama at Chitrakut
- Artist: Guman
- Sub-School: Jaipur, Rajasthan School of Miniature Paintings
- Medium: Tempera on paper
- Collection: National Museum, New Delhi
Subject Matter
This painting is based on the Ramayana, depicting the episode when Bharat goes to Chitrakut to meet Rama, along with his three mothers and Guru Vishwamitra. This episode is known as Bharat Milap.
Description
In this unique miniature painting, 50 figures are wonderfully depicted in nine groups narrating independent episodes. This miniature shows how Bharat and others request Rama to return to Ayodhya. In this unique miniature, 50 figures are wonderfully depicted in nine groups narrating independent episodes. This miniature shows how Bharat and others request Rama to return to Ayodhya.
In the background, a green hut is shown beautifully amidst a dense forest. A few mountains with trees are shown to give the effect of a dense forest, and a small part of the blue sky is also shown. In the foreground, the Saryu river with lotuses is shown with a row of green trees.
The scenes depicted include:
- All mothers are coming from the left.
- Rama, Lakshman, and Sita are greeting them.
- Kaikeyi is embracing Rama, near his hut.
- Rama is touching the feet of Kaushalya.
Pahari School Miniature Paintings
Krishna with Gopis (Basohli Sub-School)
Key Details
- Title: Krishna with Gopis
- Artist: Manku
- Sub-School: Basohli, Pahari School of Miniature Paintings
- Medium: Tempera on paper
- Collection: National Museum, New Delhi
Subject Matter
This horizontal painting is based on the Gita Govinda series by Jayadeva. Krishna is shown enjoying time with gopis at the bank of the River Yamuna.
Description
In this beautiful painting, Krishna is surrounded by eight gopis, who are expressing their love and emotion towards him. Krishna is depicted in a dark blue color. He is wearing a yellow dhoti and a peacock feather in his tiara, along with two lotus buds. All the figures have profile faces, sloping heads, eyes like lotus petals, and sharp noses.
In the center, Krishna is surrounded by a group of four gopis; one of them is touching the feet of Krishna. On the right side of the painting, Radha is standing with folded hands, and her female attendant is holding an umbrella in her hands. On the left side of the painting, two gopis are facing each other and trying to make something known to the other gopi. Love and emotions are executed in this painting, but the devotional spirit can also be felt.
Migration to Vrindavan (Kangra Sub-School)
Key Details
- Title: Nand, Yashoda and Krishna with Kinsmen Going to Vrindavan
- Artist: Nainsukh
- Sub-School: Kangra, Pahari School of Miniature Paintings
- Medium: Tempera on paper
- Collection: National Museum, New Delhi
Subject Matter
This painting is based on the story of the Bhagavata Purana, showing Nand, Yashoda, and Krishna with kinsmen migrating from Gokul to Vrindavan.
Description
This is a unique painting of the Kangra school, depicting Lord Krishna’s childhood time. Its subject is premeditated and well planned. This painting depicts a group of people with their belongings going to Vrindavan. Nand is shown sitting on a bullock cart, decorated with a dome-shaped canopy.
Just behind his bullock cart, Yashoda is sitting with Krishna, Balram, and his mother, under the same dome-shaped frilled canopy. All the kinsmen of Nandgram are also accompanying them on this divine journey, with their belongings and cattle. Some people are shown with their milk, curd, and butter pitchers on their heads.
All the human figures are shown wearing traditional clothes. They are all depicted in profile, with sloping faces and heads, eyes like lotus petals, and sharp noses. There is a very alive description of men, women, and children in this miniature. In the background, roadside stones, trees, and creepers are shown beautifully. The postures and gestures of everyone are very natural.
Mughal School Miniature Paintings
Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhana (Akbar Period)
Key Details
- Title: Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhana
- Artist: Miskin
- Sub-School: Akbar Period, Mughal School of Miniature Paintings
- Medium: Tempera on paper
- Circa: 1585–90 A.D.
- Collection: National Museum, New Delhi
Subject Matter
This painting was created for the manuscript Harivamsa. It is based on a story of Lord Krishna, when Krishna once lifted Mount Govardhan on his little finger to save the people of Gokul.
Description
This is an extremely beautiful painting from Akbar’s atelier. Lord Krishna is shown lifting Mount Govardhan in the middle of the miniature. He is exhibited in blue color, wearing a Pitambari dhoti, along with a garland touching the ground. He is wearing many ornaments. Mount Govardhan is shown in a very decorative style with massive rocks, large trees, and many types of animals such as deer and monkeys. Persian effect is quite evident in this miniature. Lord Krishna is depicted in his huge form in this painting.
Falcon on the Bird Rest (Jahangir Period)
Key Details
- Title: Falcon on the Bird Rest
- Artist: Ustad Mansoor
- Sub-School: Jahangir Period, Mughal School of Miniature Paintings
- Medium: Tempera on paper
- Circa: 1618–20 A.D.
- Collection: Maharaja Sawai Singh Museum, Jaipur
Subject Matter
This painting is based on Jahangir’s love for birds and animals. This picture is perhaps the best specimen of bird painting done in Jahangir’s atelier and is acclaimed by the world to be so. Jahangir, who was a keen falconer, was presented with a superb falcon by Shah Abbas, the Emperor of Iran. It was caught by a cat and killed. Jahangir asked his best painter, Ustad Mansoor, to make a picture of his pet falcon to be preserved in the Jahangir Nama.
Description
In this famous painting, Mansoor has painted a tamed falcon resting on a cushioned bird-rest. The falcon is painted in a great realistic manner with a refinement of details. The bird is painted in white against the yellow background, which is contrasted with the brownish-black feathers of its folded wings. An isolated figure of the falcon shown on its perch in rigid profile is centrally positioned in the composition. Black markings all over the wings suggest that it is in the likeness of the pet falcon of Jahangir.