History of Tanjore Paintings

The Tanjore painting tradition traces its roots back to the vibrant Indian art scene of the 16th century, flourishing under the patronage of the Vijayanagara Rayas, who governed their expansive realm in southern India through the Nayaka Governors. These Nayakas were renowned for their enthusiastic support of both artistic and literary endeavours.

With the establishment of Maratha rule in the region in 1676, a new era of patronage emerged. The Maratha rulers fostered an environment conducive to artistic growth, leading to a golden age for Tanjore painting as it evolved into the distinctive style recognized today. Within Maratha palaces and architectural marvels, grand depictions of deities alongside Maratha rulers, courtiers, and nobility adorned the walls.

Tanjore paintings are characterized by rounded facial features, almond-shaped eyes, and graceful figures, employ flat colors and are often intricately framed within arches, draperies, and elaborate borders. The densely packed compositions were a hallmark of Tanjore's artistry, with careful shading adding depth to the faces depicted.

The Company Style

During the decline of Maratha rule, the British, arriving in Tanjore after the Mysore Wars of 1767-99, began supporting Tanjore artists. By 1773, a British garrison was established in Tanjore, serving as a hub for British troops. Local artists in and around Tanjore then started crafting sets of paintings for Company personnel over the following century.

These sets, known as albums or album paintings, consisted of "native" or "Indian" themes painted in a style appealing to English tastes. Alongside traditional subjects like deities and Hindu mythological scenes, they incorporated elements that intrigued the English, such as fairs, ceremonies, festivals, caste occupations, and Indian plants and animals.

Unlike traditional Tanjore paintings, these works minimized or omitted the use of gold foil and avoided glass or gem inlays. They also featured brief descriptions of the subjects in English, occasionally supplemented with Tamil or Telugu. Despite being categorized as the Company style, these paintings retained the essence and style of Tanjore artistry, created by the same group of traditional artists.

Traditional Tanjore Painting Techniques

The Tanjore painting method, referred to as palagai padam, translating to "picture on a wooden plank," involves creating artwork on boards crafted from jackfruit or teak wood. These paintings are renowned for their vibrant color palette and distinctive gold leaf embellishments. Additionally, cut glass, pearls, as well as precious and semi-precious stones, are often incorporated for further adornment in Tanjore artworks.

In the past, artists primarily utilized vegetable and mineral dyes to achieve natural colors in Tanjore paintings. However, over time, chemical paints have become more prevalent. The striking color spectrum of Tanjore's artworks features vivid hues of reds, blues, and greens, contributing to their captivating appeal.

Combined with their opulent and intricate compositions, Tanjore paintings distinctly distinguish themselves from other Indian art forms. These paintings often depict various themes from Hindu mythology, including Bal Krishna, and Lord Rama, as well as other deities, saints, and mythological subjects.

Diverse Artistic Styles in Tanjore Painting

Tanjore painting not only reflected the diverse cultural influences of its patrons but also borrowed from other notable painting styles within the Vijayanagara school, such as Kalamkari and Tirupati styles. Tirupati paintings which originated from the renowned temple town of Tirupati depicted deities using various techniques in their paintings.

Another significant influence on traditional Indian art, particularly from southern India, is reverse glass painting. Many of these artworks drew inspiration from Tanjore's paintings, portraying religious figures with vibrant colors and embellishments like metallic foils, enriching the visual appeal of the pieces.

Mysore painting is also a popular art form and shares striking similarities with Tanjore painting and often confuses artists. Both styles were practised by artists from the Raju and Naidu communities and trace their origins to the Vijayanagara era. However, notable distinctions exist, such as Mysore paintings utilizing paper as their base and employing less gold foil, glass beads, and gemstones compared to Tanjore paintings.