Indian Miniature Paintings

Sunday, February 6, 2011

House of Timur

Princes of the House of Timur, Mughal miniature painting, attributed to Abd as-Samad, ca. 1550-1555, Gouache and gold on cotton

Fireworks

Zenana scene with fireworks, 17th century.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Rajput

Lady Taking Shelter from the Monsoon. Late 18th Century

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Paintings from Mughal India Book

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Garden and Cosmos

Read about the exhibition here

Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Humayun

detail, Mughal Ruler Humayun seated in a landscape

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Monday, September 29, 2008

About this blog

A celebration of the rich tradition of Indian miniature painting.

Comments welcome.

The term miniature suggests a tiny painting but in fact indicates a style of watercolour work similar to early European book illustrations which used the red pigment minia. Some Indian miniatures are quite large.

Many of the most exquisite Indian miniatures were commissioned during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar. He was an enlightened ruler and patron of the arts who wanted to create a new culture uniting the best aspects of Hindu, Christian and Islamic religion and art.

Included are some Persian miniatures because they were a major influence on Mughal miniature painting.

If you are the owner of an image and would like it removed, please advise in a comment to the post.

Most of the text is my own and copyright.

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