Rajput Painting - The History

Rajput Painting is an Indian art form belonging to the state of Rajasthan. Spanning from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, this art originated under the earliest Rajput Kingdoms and was so named. Rajput Painting flourished as a court art in the 'friendly' Rajputana states, under the umbrella of the Mughal Empire. Therefore, the style carried a strong influence of the Mughal Art. The subjects and a degree of inherent abstraction however, set the Rajput Paintings apart. Different Rajput states developed their own distinguishing styles, yet all of them retained the fundamental elements of Rajput Painting as a whole.

The Details

A large body of works from the Rajputana Kingdoms centered on devotional and religious subjects that included the life history of the Indian God Lord Krishna. Tales from the Indian epics, like Ramayana & Mahabharata and Indian holy books such as Bhagavata Purana were also important subjects here. Bikaner, Bundi, Kota, Amber, Jaipur, Kishengarh, Marwar, and Mewar were the most significant regions that contributed towards the development of Rajput Painting. Bundi, where court scenes, noblemen, and amours attracted maximum artistic attention, is considered the birthplace of Rajput Painting. Painted works from Bikaner blended the characteristics of Deccan Art with the Mughal style. Artists from Kota, on the other hand, focused on hunting scenes, Ragamalas, and portraits. The Kishangarh School of Art is well known for its regional style termed as 'Bani Thani' paintings. Mewar was the key territory, in which, the Rajput Painting kept away from the Mughal influence and instead, drew its inspiration from the Indian Chaurapanchasika style. By the end of the sixteenth century, this Indian painting style started blending domestic as well as international influences, such as Persian, Chinese, and European.

Flat forms, bold lines, and vibrant colors marked the two-dimensional Rajput Paintings. Bright yellow, orange, red, brown, and deep blue were usually the dominating colors on the Rajput palettes. These paintings were noted for their ornamental abstraction, where physical features were emphasized and accentuated. For example, eyes were often portrayed in large, almond shapes, and necks & fingers were elongated & sleek. No part of the frame was left untouched, which created a rich and flamboyant final output.

Rajput Paintings were mostly in the form of miniature pictures placed in manuscripts or small sized pictures, as part of collections. However, they were not limited to these forms with a host of works being painted on the walls of the royal courts and fort chambers, especially in the regime of Shekhawat Rajputs. The color pigments were derived from organic, mineral and metals. Not only did the use of precious metals, including gold & silver, and processed gemstones, but also the brilliance of style and execution, make Rajput Paintings among the most invaluable contributions in the field of Fine Arts.