Traditional Painting

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Tanjavur or modern Tanjore is famous for a special style of decorating the paintings which were done both on glass & board. In both types, the figures & the background are richly embellished with gold leaf & gems as ornaments. The relief work on board is achieved by applying gesso, a mixture of gypsum or plaster of Paris & glue. Krishna in various poses has been the main theme, but there are also various paintings in temples , of all the other Gods & Saints.

Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Gujarat, Mandu, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jammu, Kulu, Kangra Rajasthani, Rajput, Buddhist dieties, Jaina forms, tales of Sri Rama, Krishna(the everlasting lover with his cohourts), court & royal scenes were the subject matter of the miniature paintings from the various regions. These paintings were replete with motifs of flora & fauna in bold and striking colours, dresses of ladies in various patterns, wonderfully coloured turbans of men. Vegetable dyes and derivatives from nature were used in all the forms of miniature paintings.