Rajasthan’s role in the development of Indian art has been very important. From the 16th century onwards there are many schools of paintings like the Mewar school, the Bundi - Kota
Kalam, the Jaipur, Bikaner, Kishangarh and Mewar schools. Influenced by the surroundings, these medieval paintings have their own unique styles - the hills and valleys, deserts, palaces and forts, gardens, court scenes, religious processions and those highlighting scenes from the life of Lord Krishna were the recurrent themes of these paintings. The Raagmala paintings and those based on Geeta Govinda are treasures of
Rajasthan. It is widely believed that the miniature artists of Rajasthan were practicing and perfecting their art as early as the beginning of the 16th century and were later employed by the mughal courts, specially by the great mughal emperor
Akbar. The colours used by the miniature artists were made from minerals, vegetables, precious stones, indigo, conch shells, pure gold and silver. The preparing and mixing of color was an elaborate process and it took weeks, sometimes months, to get the desired results. Very fine, specially created brushes were made for different kinds of paintings. |