Arts Of India

India is a land of so many diverse cultures that its art forms seem to be countless in number. This article, for example, is dedicated to Shekhawati paintings - a form of mural painting that adorned the walls of many buildings in Shekhawati, a semi-desert region in north Rajasthan situated entirely in the triangle between Delhi-Bikaner-Jaipur. These paintings were characterised by pictures  drawn and colored piecemeal on the dry plaster surface of walls. Subjects ranged from religious and mythological themes to everyday environments and erotica. The paintings of Shekhawati have been an important part of Rajasthan’s - and by extension India’s - cultural heritage. History of the Art The first Shekhawati paintings can be traced as far back as the 17th century. The local styles were influenced by the then-Mughal work in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. The earliest works even included the "Jaipur fresco" work, wherein thick pigments were applied and worked onto a wet plaster surface. The...

Nathadwara painting is a style of painting which has originated from the Nathadwara town in Rajsamand district, Rajasthan. This painting is associated with the religious beliefs and traditions of  Vallabha Sampradaya  of the followers of  Vaishnavism  and  Pushti Marg . This art form has different sub-styles like  Pichhvai  painting,  Haveli  painting, etc. This art form is mostly associated with the cloth or textile painting or wall hangings of  Srinathji  and his various forms and incarnations. History and Origin of the Art The primary cause of the development of Nathadwara painting style was to protect the Hindu religious practices of worshipping from the oppressions of the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, who had destroyed many temples and idols of Gods and Goddesses. As a part of this programme, an image of  Srinathji , a child manifestation of Sri Krishna, was installed in the Nathadwara city in 1670 by the  Goswami  ...