Pahari School of Painting: Sub Schools

Basholi School (from 17th century)

  • From Basholi of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • They were Miniature Paintings.
  • Characteristics – An expressive face with a receding hairline and big eyes that were shaped like lotus petals.
  • These paintings used a lot of primary colours, i.e. red, yellow, and green.
  • They used the Mughal technique of painting on clothing.
  • The first patron of this school was Raja Kirpal Pal who ordered the illustration of Bhanudatta’s Rasamanjari, Gita Govinda, and the Ramayana drawings. 
  • The most famous painter of this school was Devi Das who was famous for his depiction of Radha Krishna.
  • The use of contrasting colours is associated with this school and they were borrowed from the Malwa paintings.

Kangra School (from mid-18th century)

  • Emerged after the decline of the Mughals and patronage under the Rajput Kingdom.
  • This school reached its zenith under the patronage of Raja Sansar Chand. 
  • The popular subjects were the Gita Govinda, Bhagavata Purana, Satsai of Biharilal, and Nal Damayanti. Love scenes of Krishna were a very prominent theme.
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