![]() Indian painting has evolved from the hinterlands and has remained immortal in the annals of history. The rock painting that was discovered in Bhimbhetka and other places are known to exist from pre-historic times. Some of them even go back to the late 5500 BC, while some are even older. The Indian paintings are the great sinews of beauty, art and culture. They further emerged through the pages of history and after more than a few millennia, around in 7th century; India witnessed the magnificent engraved pillars and the fine painting of Ellora in Maharashtra state. The Indian paintings portray the plethora of events from the Buddhist literatures including the palaces of kings and the noble class. But these paintings have not survived through the ages. The colours used for these paintings are prepared from minerals. The tradition of painting in India is therefore as old and varied as the land itself. Started since the prehistoric times, traditional painting in India gained dimension with time. The different forms of traditional painting in India are therefore vivid and lively, bold and vigorous whilst reflecting the refined and sophisticated artistry of Indian painting. Some traditional paintings like Warli, Madhubani and Patachitra are globally commended. ![]() Apart from the miniature paintings Dravidian mural paintings are also matchless examples of Indian painting. These are the unique frescos drawn on the walls of temples and churches in South India, predominant in Kerala. The themes of the paintings are largely drawn from mythology and legends. These paintings are largely found in the churches, palaces, and temples constructed between the 9th to 12th centuries AD when this art form enjoyed majestic support. ![]() Right after the Mughal painting the Deccani school of Painting made Indian painting rich, vivid and illustrative. The Deccani School of painting got inspiration from the Mughal School and evolved its own unique and very characteristic style. Pale green, mineral-coloured backgrounds with figures placed squarely in the foreground marks the Deccani school of painting as an expression of subtleties through brushwork. The colonial period further offered that contemporaneity to Indian painting whilst making the aspects which were larger than life, rather realistic. Indian paintings then brought out the verve of India amidst those bold brushworks. The unspoken truths, the never mouthed verities and above all the unedited realities of life all found a distinct dimension in those famous Indian paintings. Cornificius rightly says that 'picture is a poem without words' and the Indian artists are true poets. They have propelled Indian painting into the world of art and culture. Some of the famous Indian painters who not only gained accolades in India but also known internationally, are Amrita Shergill, Jamini Roy, Raja Ravi Varma, MF Hussain and Tyeb Mehta. Raja Ravi Varma is one of the greatest Indian painters and his place in Indian painting is etched in gold. |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||