Rajasthani Painting Lecture Review

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the historical context, techniques, major artists, and specific masterpieces of the Rajasthani School of Miniature Painting.

Miniature

Derived from the Latin word ‘minium’ (red oxide), these are portable, handy, and light paintings often used as illustrations in manuscripts, not necessarily defined by their small size.

Minium

A red oxide used as a miniating or delineating pigment in manuscripts, giving rise to the name 'miniature'.

Vaishnavism and Bhakti Cult

Major factors in the development of Rajasthani painting, involving spiritual awakening through poets like Ramanuja and Jaydeva, and figures like Sri Chaitanya and Meera Bai.

Bani Thani

A famous Rajasthani miniature painting from the Kishangarh school, created by Nihal Chand, depicting Radha with idealized beauty and spiritual devotion.

Indian Mona Lisa

A popular nickname for the painting ‘Bani Thani’ due to its enigmatic smile and representation of ideal feminine grace.

Nihal Chand

The chief artist of Raja Sawant Singh who painted the world-famous Kishangarh miniature ‘Bani Thani’ circa $1760\,AD$.

Raja Sawant Singh

The patron of the Kishangarh court in the $18^{th}$ century who was devoted to Krishna and poetry, and for whom Bani Thani was painted.

Tempra

The water-based painting medium used on handmade paper for most Rajasthani miniatures like Bani Thani.

Raja Aniruddha Singh Hara

A Bundi school painting by the artist Utkalram, depicting a ruler seated on a decorated galloping horse, representing Rajpoot court culture.

Utkalram

The artist responsible for the $18^{th}$ century painting 'Raja Aniruddha Singh Hara' in the Bundi School.

Chaugan Players

A Jodhpur school painting by the artist Dana, depicting princesses and maids playing polo, reflecting the royal lifestyle and sports of the time.

Chaugan

A term referring to the sport of polo, which was a popular royal sport in medieval India symbolizing prestige and martial training.

Maru Ragini

An illustraton from the Mewar School by artist Sahibdin (part of a Ragamala series), depicting a king and queen riding a camel through a desert background.

Sahibdin

The court painter of Udaipur (Mewar) during the $17^{th}$ century who painted the 'Maru Ragini' series.

Ragamala Tradition

A tradition in Indian art where various musical modes (ragas and raginis) are represented through visual imagery, poetry, and music.

Krishna on Swing

A Bikaner school painting by Nuruddin depicting the mythology of Radha and Krishna, reflecting the Bhakti movement and the festival of Jhulan Yatra.

Nuruddin

The artist from the Bikaner school who painted 'Krishna on Swing'.

Jhulan Yatra

A festival celebrated during the monsoon season that is represented by the swing scene in the 'Krishna on Swing' painting.

Bharat Meets Rama at Chitrakuta

An extraordinary narrative painting by Guman from the Jaipur school, depicting an episode from the Ramayana with $49$ human figures in different groups.

Guman

The talented $18^{th}$ century artist of the Jaipur school who painted 'Bharat Meets Rama at Chitrakuta'.

Wasli

A technique where thin layers of paper are glued together to create a hard surface similar to a paste board, used as a base for miniature paintings.

Shadanga

The 'six limbs' of Indian painting, which are exemplified in the artwork of Bani Thani.