PUNJAB PAINTINGS
The scholarly world a rich
style of painting known as 'Punjab Paintings' hitherto unknown just like other Indian
school of Painting viz. Mughal, Rajput and Pahari Painting with all the salient features
of any art movement inherent in it. The social life of the painters who made creative and
beautiful environment -royal and private both- but thus far remained in oblivion.
Prominent centers of miniature
painting developed specially in Lahore, Amritsar, Patiala, Kapurthala, Jind, Nabha etc.
The ruling chiefs of these states patronized miniature painting during the nineteenth
century in the fashion of Mughal emperors who maintained well trained indigenous as well
as Herati and Shirazi artists' ateliers in their courts. The miniature painting style that
developed in Punjab was neither the prototype of pure Pahari nor perfect Mughal.
PATIALA SCHOOL OF
PAINTING
Maharaja Narinder Singh in
whose time art, music and poetry and architecture developed to a very high pitch of glory
and grandeur. It was here that Rajasthani, Pahari and Avadhi painting developed into a
most sophisticated style, later known as Patiala School of Painting - a harmonious
blending of all the three distinct styles. The artists were not only miniature painters
but simultaneously fresco painters of a high order.
