Tanjore painting

Introduction

Thanjavur includes a distinctive place within the history of Indian painting, therein it homes the eleventh century Chola wall paintings within the Brihadeeswarar temple (Periya koyil or Pervudaiyar koyil in Tamil) as additionally paintings from the Nayak amount persistently superimposed on the sooner Chola paintings geological dating to the sixteenth century. the autumn of the Vijayanagar Empire and also the sack of Hampi within the Battle of Talikota in 1565 Ce resulted within the migration of painters World Health Organization had been keen about the patronage of the empire. a number of them migrated to Thanjavur and worked underneath the patronage of the Thanjavur Nayakas. later, the Indian rulers World Health Organization defeated the Thanjavur Nayakas began to nurture the Thanjavur artist’s workroom. gratuitous to mention, the artists absorbed the native influences and also the individual tastes of their Indian patrons that helped evolve the distinctive Thanjavur form of painting. The Thanjavur artists additionally to decorating temples additionally began painting and decorating the key buildings, palaces, chatrams and residences of the Indian kings and nobility.

Vijayanagara Rayas

The Vijayanagar empire, supported by Harihara and Bukka, was for long a bulwark against the apace advancing monotheism influence from the close Deccan and also the farther North. whereas the foreign influences did bit by bit percolate into the solid ground South, the Vijayanagar empire ensured that the older Hindu creative traditions were protected and preserved. The empire had reached its celestial point underneath Krishnadevaraya (1509–29). Its territory stretched across the complete South Indian earth, from the Tungabhadra stream within the North to Kanyakumari within the south and also the Malabar coast on the Arabian Sea within the west to the Coromandel coast on the Bay of geographic region within the east at its peak. In 1521–22, Krishnadevaraya traveled to the Tamil country (Tamilagam) visiting holy places and as was his wont, created lavish donations to temples and alternative spiritual institutions.It will be surmised that a number of this liberality was additionally channeled into art and artists.

Thanjavur Nayakas

The Vijayanagar Rayas administered their Brobdingnagian kingdom through Nayaka Governors World Health Organization additionally administered the far provinces or states underneath the superintendence of the Raya. The third vital Nayaka state in Tamil country, Thanjavur, (Senji and Madurai being the others) had been established underneath the reign of Krishnadevaraya’s brother and successor Achyutaraya (1529–42). The Thanjavur Nayaka line commenced with Sevappa Nayaka (1532–72). Sevappa dominated for many years, competently supported by his son Achyutappa (1564–1614), World Health Organization later succeeded him. it absolutely was throughout Achyutappa’s reign that the Vijayanagara empire fell, resulting in the exodus of diverse litterateurs, philosophers, musicians and artists World Health Organization migrated to many alternative neighbor kingdoms like Mysore and Thanjavur. Achyutappa was succeeded by his son Raghunatha Nayaka World Health Organization successively was succeeded by Vijayaraghava Nayaka. Raghunatha, World Health Organization was presumably the foremost fortunate Thanjavur Nayaka ruler, was additionally an excellent patron of art and artists and helped establish the distinctive faculty of Thanjavur artists World Health Organization later evolved the Thanjavur form of paintings underneath the Marathas.

Style and Technique

Thanjavur glass paintings following the techniques of Chinese reverse glass paintings were popularised throughout Serfoji II’s reign as a less expensive and quicker craft. The paintings were done on the reverse surface of a glass sheet with strips of metal overwhelmed into clear gaps to simulate the result of jewelry and precious stones. Most of the paintings were of Hindu deities & saints. alternative elegant and laic portraits were additionally created.

Tanjore Glass painting of Raja Sarabhoji

A Thanjavur Painting was usually created on a canvas affixed over a plank of wood (Jackfruit or teak) with Arabic gum. The canvas was then equally coated with a paste of talcum (gopi) or powdery rock and a binding medium and dried. The creator then histrion or copied employing a stencil, a close define of the most and subsidiary subjects on the canvas. A paste, made from rock powder and a binding medium known as sukkan or makku, was used for making the Gesso work. Gold leaves and gems of assorted hues were decorated in elect areas like pillars, arches, thrones, dresses, etc. Finally, colors were applied on the sketch.