Indian Miniature Painting – Mughal Style - 7th to Mid-16th Century

Paintings have always been considered a divine art in India. Legend has it that the Supreme God, Brahma, himself created the art of painting. It is believed that great God taught a king how to bring life back into the dead son of one of his subjects. Brahma made a portrait of the young boy and then he put life into the picture. As Brahma was the highest and most revered of the Gods of early Hinduism, the story of his being a painter gave this art great importance.

The raw materials that were used in early days before Acrylics and Oils, were derived from everything naturally available such as vegetables and malachite (green), fruits, mustard oil (black), soil (yellow), lime (white), indigo and lapis lazuli (blue), amongst others. In olden days, eggs, fat, gold powder, silver foil, were also used. Instead of pencil, burnt wood was used for making the initial sketches. Brushes were made from the bushy tails of squirrels and kittens, hair from the inner ears of sheep.

There are Miniature paintings of different styles in India. Some of them are Miniature Paintings from Raghogarh Region, Bundelkhand region, different substyles from Malwa such as Ujjain, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Javad etc. Each style has it’s popular theme and unique painting techniques. One has to invest more than a lifetime to learn every single one of them.

About My Painting :

I chose a simple painting of a royal lady picking berries. This painting also has a bit of craftwork in it besides actual painting. The stonewall effect was achieved by using lime powder and glue. The outlines and her jewelry are made with silicone/clay and painted with gold/silver metal paint.

Today is my father's birthday and I would like to dedicate this artwork to him as he had supported and encouraged me in learning this work of art during my trip to India and made those drives back and forth to pick me and drop me off. I would not have been able to learn this otherwise. Thanks pa! And wish you many many more happy returns of the day !! :)