The miniature paintings of Rajasthan are renowned the world over. Over a period of time several schools of painting developed in Rajasthan : the Mewar School, Bundi-Kota Kalam, Bikaner, Jaipur, paintings were being made in Rajasthan as early as the 18th century and later the Mughal court employed the artists.
Qila Mubarik Androon in Patiala is well known for its rich collection of paintings. These paintings have been designed by the great artists of Kangra and Rajasthan. They depict the themes of Ramayana, Mahabharta, Shrimad Bhagwat, Geet Govinda, Baramas and Ragas and Ragnis. The legends of Laila Majnu, Sassi Punnu and Sohni Mahiwal are also painted in one of the bedchambers. You find a splendid exhibition of mural paintings on the walls of Sheesh Mahal as well. The paintings are a translation of the poetry of Keshav Dass, Bihari Lal and Surdas.
Patna School of Painting or Patna Qalaam, some times also called Company painting, offshoot of the well-know Mughal Miniature School of Painting flourished in Bihar during early 18th to mid 20th century. The practitioners of this art form were descendants of Hindu artisans of Mughal painting who facing persecution from the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb found refuge, via Murshidabad, in Patna during late 18th century.
Madhubani painting or Mithila Painting is a style of Indian painting, practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar state. The history of Madhubani paintings goes back to the time of Ramayana. Originally the painting was done on freshly plastered mud wall of huts, but now it is also done on cloth, hand-made paper and canvas. Madhubani painting mostly depict nature and Hindu religious figures and the themes generally associated with Hindu deities, Natural objects like sun, moon, and religious plants like tulsi.
Cherial folk painting is a beautiful work of art, expressing the narrative format by the means of rich color scheme. These paintings are based on the themes from the great epics. Employing traditional techniques, Cherial paintings are created on cloth that might run to meters in length. 'Kaki padagollu' is the main community that uses these paintings, as a visual aid to recite tales from 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata'. In the present day, artists also make Cherial paintings or scroll paintings in smaller sizes on cloth, cardboard, plywood and paper.
Tamil Nadu is known for its traditional ornate paintings, known as Tanjore paintings. This unique art form has its origin from Tanjore in South India. The portrayal of figures in these paintings is breathtakingly brilliant. The early paintings were embedded with real diamonds, rubies and other precious stones. Presently, pure gold foils and semi precious stones are used to adorn the paintings. The Tanjore School of Paintings dates back to the 16th century. However, there are only a few paintings that date back that far.
Miniature painting, like many other great arts, was brought to India by the Mughals with the valuable assistance of the Persians. Of all the art forms in the Mughal period, miniature paintings are painstakingly painted creations that depict the events and life style of the Mughals in their magnificent palaces.
Other paintings include portraits or studies of wildlife and plants. This art is still alive and popular in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. These miniature paintings are every connoiseur's delight.
Inspired by the royal and romantic lives of the Mughals, these paintings show one moment at a time, in minute details. The court artists, who actually watched the royalty, to capture the moments on canvas instead of stretching their imagination, made the Mughal Paintings.
The Tripura Paintings are an integral part of the art and craft of Tripura. The paintings of the tribal people in Tripura portray their colorful lifestyle. The rural paintings are entwined into their daily lives and speak volumes about the tribal life of Tripura.
There are also other paintings in Tripura that are preserved in the Tripura Governmnet Museum. These paintings are mostly collected from the Royal House of Tripura. These paintings have been permanently donated by the Royal House.
The paintings mainly belong to the full size portraits of the Kings of the Tripura state. The museum also boasts of some sketches and paintings of renowned artists like:
Thangka Paintings are unique to the state of Sikkim. Initially, these paintings were the only medium to preach the highest ideals of Buddhism. 'Thangkas' are usually made on cotton canvas with a frame of silk. These paintings portray images of different Gods, Goddesses and philosophies related to Buddhism. Originally, paintings were made by priests and monks, later the skills got passed from generation to generation. Today, commercialization of this art is helping monasteries and practitioners to earn a living.
Most enchanting sights of Punajbi paintings can be seen in Harmandir Sahib, Akhara Bala Nand, Tower of Baba Atal Rai and Ranjit Singh Musuem, in Amritsar. The sanctum of Harmandir Sahib has 300 stunning designs of paintings engraved in stone-inlay and mirror work, belonging to the typical Punjabi-genre. At Maharaja Ranjit Singh Musuem, the most remarkable feature is the set of ivory miniature paintings of the chiefs. Baba Atal Rai Tower has a gallery of wall paintings, stone-inlay and metalwork.