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Miniature Paintings History of Paintings Islam condemned painting as sacrilege and the Quran forbids the representation of animal nature in art. So, the early Muslim rulers did not encourage any school of painting. But the enthusiasm of Akbar, the Great, really laid the foundation for the Mughal school of painting in India. There was an intermingling of Persian and Hindu strains of paintings. Mughal art in its beginning can be studied from the paintings of the Hamza- Namah. The reign of Jehangir (1605-1627) is generally regarded as the Golden age of the Mughal paintings. Artists of both Persian and Indian origin combined to evolve a synthesis of Persian, Hindu and Western traditions, during his reign. But the King mainly encouraged Portraits of himself and his subjects. The artists of Jehangir's court developed the idea of mounting pictures with margin and extensive decorations. After Aurangazeb, the artists were totally neglected. Meanwhile the Rajput artists based in Rajasthan had a preference for Mughal techniques and they slowly changed it into a truly Rajput one. The most popular subjects were the lovers of Krishna and Radha revealed amorously but yet tempered with refinement. During the British period, many artists unable to find an employment worked in the Britishers houses and were told to develop paintings according to the Western taste. Art curriculums in Colleges were tuned to the western style and the Shantiniketan School founded by Rabindranath Tagore revolted against such imposed trainings. After Independence there was another peak in the graph of Indian Art. The Progressive Artists' Club in Bombay was formed comprising M.F.Hussain F.N Souza, K.H Ara, S.K Bakre and H. A Hade. Types of Paintings Batik Painting Classical Painting Glass Painting Kalamkari Painting Madhubani Painting Marble Painting Phad Painting Silk Painting Tanjore Painting Thangka Painting Tribal Painting Warli Painting Wooden Painting Baroda became a new center of art and the artists created pieces that would excite the visual, imaginative and intellectual powers of an individual. In the last decade , geography and history have shed their boundaries and Indian artists have come in contact with styles and techniques form all the corners of the world. In a tangled scene of contemporary culture ,the Indian artists are struggling for self-expression. In recent years a new generation of young artists have sprouted up and they are making their presence felt nation-wide. They are mingling western ideas and Indianness in their masterpieces. Altogether the Indian painting scene is very dynamic and eclectic. Raja Ravi Varma Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906), is famous for his paintings which are based on Indian mythology and Epics. He was born in Killimanoor Palace as the son of Ummba Thampuratti and Neelakandan Bhattathiripad. His uncle spotted his talent at a very young age and gave him some initial training. Later he learnt watercolor painting from the Palace artist Rama Swamy Naidu. He learnt oil painting from the British artist Theodar Jenson. Towards the end of the 19th century, when there was a lack of vitality in Indian Painting, Raja Ravi Varma was one of the few artists who introduced Indian subjects in his work. Page Top Types of Paintings Raja Ravi Varma Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906), is famous for his paintings which are based on Indian mythology and Epics. He was born in Killimanoor Palace as the son of Ummba Thampuratti and Neelakandan Bhattathiripad. His uncle spotted his talent at a very young age and gave him some initial training. Later he learnt watercolor painting from the Palace artist Rama Swamy Naidu. He learnt oil painting from the British artist Theodar Jenson. Towards the end of the 19th century, when there was a lack of vitality in Indian Painting, Raja Ravi Varma was one of the few artists who introduced Indian subjects in his work. Page Top