2. Miniature Paintings
• Word ‘minature’ is derived from Latin word ‘minium’ meaning red
lead paint
• This red lead paint was used in the illuminated manuscripts during
renaissance period
• Miniatures in India have a long tradition
• Many schools developed with distinction of style and composition
• Miniatures are small and detailed paintings
3. Techniques & Requirements of Miniature Paintings
• Painting should not be bigger than 25 square inches in size
• Subject should be painted in not more than one-sixth of the actual
size of the frame
• Human figurine is seen with the side profile
• They usually have bulging eyes, pointed nose and slim waist
• In Rajasthani miniatures the skin skin colour of the characters is
brown, while in Mughal paintings they are generally fairer
• Colour of Krishna is Blue
• The women figurines have long black hair and black eyes
• Dress of both men and women is generally in Medieval Mughal style
4. Early Miniatures
• Miniatures were initially made for books, albums, border illustration
• Made on perishable material like paper, palm leaves, cloth
• As an extension of Large Murals, miniatures seem to cater to the
needs of Royal Courts
• Time period for the early miniatures is 8th to 12th century CE
• Two Prominent schools of early miniature are:
1. Pala School of Art
2. Apabhramsha School of Art
5. Pala School of Art
• Developed during 750-1150 CE as integral part of manuscripts
• Executed on palm leaves or vellum paper
• Buddhist monks used them
• These paintings are characterized by sinuous lines and subdued tones
of the background imagery
• Most of the paintings have lone single figures
• Compositions are simple, no group depictions
• Patronised by Pala rulers who also patronized Buddhism
• Vajrayana Buddhism also patronized this style
• Prominent painters were Dhimman and Vitapala
7. Apabhramsa School of Art
• This school traces its origin to Gujarat and Mewar region
• Prominent during 11th and 15th Century
• Initially the themes were Jain and later appropriation of Vaisnava
traditions as well
• Domination of Jain iconography
• Later introduction of Gita Govinda and love emotions
• In early phase Jain iconography is on palm leaves
• Later period sees the use of paper
• These paintings were murals in a reduced form
8. • Colours used had symbolic meaning
• Initial phase sees the use of red, yellow and ochre
• Later phase used bright colours along with golden pigments
• Human figurines have fish shaped bulging eyes, a pointed nose and a
double chin
• Gradually angular faces were made
• Figures are usually stiff with careful ornamentation
• Animal and bird figurines are shown as toys
• Most famous examples are Kalpasutra and Kalakacharya Katha of 15th
Century
10. Miniatures of Transition Period
• Central Asian influences reach India by 13th Century
• Western Parts continued with the older traditions
• Vijayanagara developed a distinct style identical to Deccan Style of
Painting
• Colours were applied in a flat format
• Dress and human figurines were demarcated in black
• Face has a three quarter angle and gives a detached appearance
• Background landscape is full of trees, rocks, and other non-natural
patterns
11. Miniatures During Delhi Sultanate
• Synthesis of Persian and Indian Traditions
• Preference to illustrated manuscripts
• Nimatnama, a book on cookery in Malwa region is a good example of
synthesis of Indian and Persian styles of miniature illustrations
• Lodhi Khuladar Style was popular in the region between Delhi and
Jaunpur
• These achievements of Sultanate period Miniature styles fnally
culminated into three major styles: Mughal, Rajput and Deccan
12. Mughal Era Miniature Paintings
• Inspired by Persian Naturalistic Style
• Change in colour palette, theme and forms
• Focus shifted from Gods to Gorifications of Patron Rulers
• Royal household and King’s life was popular theme
• Hunting Scenes, Battles, seizes, Court Scenes, Celebrations were the general
themes
• Use of Brilliant colours
• Accuracy of line drawings
• Introduction of the technique of ‘foreshortening’ , objects drawn appeared
closer and smaller than the real ones
