Art historian B N Goswamy’s work on Indian miniature painting tradition

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is Miniature painting?
• What is Pahari painting?
• What is Deccan painting?
• News Summary: Art historian B N Goswamy’s work on Indian miniature painting tradition
• How Goswamy helped expand our knowledge about miniature paintings?

Why in news?

• Indian art historian and critic Brijinder Nath Goswamy passed away in Chandigarh due to prolonged ill health. He was 90.
• He was best known for his scholarship on Indian miniature painting tradition.

What is Miniature painting?

• About
  • Miniature painting is an intricate form of art involving highly detailed paintings on a small scale. 
  • It is characterised by the use of bright colours, intricate patterns, and elaborate detailing.
• Roots of the miniature painting in India
  • The roots of the miniature painting tradition go back to the Buddhist Pala dynasty.
    • Pala dynasty ruled Bengal and Bihar from the 8th century until the end of the 11th century. 
  • The paintings during this era existed in the form of illustrations of religious texts on Buddhism and Jainism. 
  • The illustrations were made on palm leaf until paper was introduced between the 11th and 13th centuries.
• Tradition thrived under Mughals
  • The tradition didn’t begin to thrive until the rise of the Mughal Empire in the early 1500s. 
  • It was only through the emphasis and funding provided by Humayun and his descendants that court painting in the form of Mughal miniatures came to be seen as the highest form of sophistication and elegance.
  • Mughal miniatures were not bigger than a few square inches and featured brightly coloured paintings used to illustrate manuscripts and art books. 
  • They were astonishingly accurate, with some lines painted using brushes composed of a single hair.
• Decline of the tradition during the reign of Aurangzeb
  • The tradition of Mughal miniature began to decline during the reign of Aurangzeb. 
  • This led to the migration of skilled miniaturists to the princely courts of Rajasthan and lower Himalayan hill kingdoms of North India and the plains of Punjab.

What is Pahari painting?

• About
  • As a result of migration during and after the reign of Aurangzeb, places like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Tehri-Garhwal saw a new tradition of miniature painting.
  • This came to be known as Pahari painting.
• Features
  • Pahari paintings featured both religious and secular subjects. 
  • Detailed paintings based on religious epics such as Mahabharat and Ramayana, Puranas, and Gita were frequently painted in the style.

What is Deccan painting?

• About
  • Miniature painting also flourished in the Deccan region between the 16th and 19th centuries. 
  • It emerged after the break-up of the Bahmani Sultanate in 1520. 
  • Known as Deccan painting, the style initially developed independent of Mughal influences and took cues from European, Iranian and Turkish influences.
• Features
  • Deccani miniature paintings showcased illumination and decoration of text from the Holy Quran and the Surahs. 
  • Indigenous art forms and romantic elements were later amalgamated into this art form.

News Summary: Art historian B N Goswamy’s work on Indian miniature painting tradition

• Renowned art historian and writer Brijender Nath Goswamy died recently.
• He was best-known for his works on the Pahari style of paintings.
  • Goswamy quit the prestigious civil services in 1958 to follow a career in academics and research.
• He authored more than 26 books on the subjects of Pahari paintings, miniature paintings, court painters, and masters of Indian paintings among others.

How Goswamy helped expand our knowledge about miniature paintings?

• Goswamy in his 1968 article, which focused on Pahari painting, illustrated that the style of paintings didn’t depend on in which state they were being produced.
  • The style was dependent on the family of painters.
• He then went on to reconstruct the entire family networks of some of the most renowned Indian miniature families, including that of Pandit Seu, who worked in Himachal Pradesh’s Guler, and his sons, Nainsukh and Manaku etc.
• Goswamy succeeded in reconstructing whole dynasties of previously obscure artists, given them names, and restored their identities and honour.

Q1) What is deccan?

Deccan is the name of the entire southern peninsula of India south of the Narmada River. The name comes from the Sanskrit word daksina which means "south".

Q2) What is Pala dynasty?

The Pala dynasty was a prominent ancient Indian dynasty that ruled the regions of Bengal and Bihar from the 8th to the 12th century. The Palas were patrons of Buddhism and played a significant role in spreading Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent.

Source: Explained: Art historian B N Goswamy’s work on Indian miniature painting tradition | Times of India | The Hindu