One of southern India’s most well-known and canonical art forms are Thanjavur paintings, also recognized by the name Tanjore Art or Tanjore paintings. It is a cultural expression of rich artistic history named after the locale of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu.
Thanjavur paintings are famous for their flashy and flamboyant depictions of Hindu deities. Although the art form has undergone several variations, its underlying pageantry and eye-catching appearance and charm have not been lost. Tanjore temple painting is still one of the most popular folk arts across the country and the globe.
History of Tanjore Paintings
Thanjavur art highlights a very special time in South Indian history - a time when military generals and governors, i.e., “Nayakas” encouraged the proliferation of craftsmanship. Thanjavur at that time was ruled by the Nayakas under the dominion of Vijayanagara Rayas, who were famous for being art savants themselves. They mainly encouraged the most popular forms of the artistry of their time, namely
- Classical dance and music
- Literature (in Telugu and Tamil)
- Paintings (mostly of Hindu deities and mythology)
In this blog, let us look at the glorious history of Tanjore Art.
When it comes to the broader Indian art history, the town of Thanjavur geographically is very important. Tanjore hosts early 11th-century wall paintings from the Chola dynasty inside the Brihadeeswarar temple and then from the 16th-century Nayaka period paintings which are mostly superimposed over the Chola ones.
The history of Tanjore paintings can be divided broadly into four parts:
- Vijayanagara Raya (1509-29): This period saw the origination of Tanjore art. Vijayanagara Empire also instilled traditions and practices for the art form.
- Thanjavur Nayakas (1529-1614): Vijayanagara kingdom administered Tanjore through their Nayakas, who upheld the traditions of the art form and kept it alive even after the fall of Vijayanagara at the battle of Talikota.
- Maratha Rulers (1676-1855): After defeating the Nayakas, the Marathas took over and made certain advancements.
- Aftermath (1855- modern times): After the Maratha empire collapsed, the mercantile community Chettiar became the primary patron for the Tanjore artists.
Over centuries, the tumultuous history of southern India was reflected in the themes of Tanjore paintings. It also showcases the patronages, who kept the lights on for the artists in their darkest times.
The Theme of Tanjore Paintings
Just like the history of Tanjore paintings, its themes are usually defined by the patrons. As time went on, Tanjore artists included a diverse range of newer themes. The core theme of Tanjore paintings is Hindu mythology. Some of the most common themes in the history of Tanjore paintings are Lord Rama, Bala Krishna, Ashtha Lakshmi, Venkateshwara Balaji Tanjore paintings, saints, and various other subjects from Hindu mythology.
Tanjore Painting Materials
Tanjore paintings are called “palagai padam” in Tamil which translates to “picture on a wooden plank.” This is because Tanjore artwork is generally built on boards made out of teak or jackfruit tree wood. It is now replaced by plywood.
Some fo the other materials used in Tanjore Painting are
- Chalk powder
- Marble Dust
- Gold Foil
- Semi-precious stones
- Arabic Gum
- Colours
The colour palette used in Tanjore paintings is generally bright and vibrant along with gold leaf colouring. Other notable characteristics of a Tanjore painting include embellishments such as pearls, cut glass, and precious & semi-precious stones for decoration.
Process of Tanjore Painting
The process of the maximalist Tanjore art involves some crucial steps.
- Preparing wooden panel
- Applying cloth on the panel with glue
- Drawing the design with charcoal
- Applying a paste of chalk powder and water for raised effect
- Applying gold foil using Arabic gum
- Adding embellishments
- Adding colours
- Adding Varnish
Famous Tanjore Artists
Tanjore art is still alive today and traditional artists are working hard to make sure that its popularity grows. Some nationally acclaimed Tanjore artists include
- C. Kondiah Raju - Famous for his calendar prints, he and his students run a solid Tanjore art-oriented workshop that takes inspiration from the likes of Raja Ravi Varma.
- T Venkatesa Raja - Honoured with the Shilp Guru Award at the ripe old age of 64 in 2015, Raja has been working to create Tanjore art for the better part of the last 5 decades.
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Swaminathan Vishwakarma - Another National award-winning Tanjore Painting artist is Swaminathan Vishwakarma.
Where are Tanjore Paintings Today?
Today, the art form has evolved and adapted perfectly to the modern setting. Tanjore Painting received a Geographical Indication (G.I.) Tag by the Government of India in 2007-08 which has helped the artists get the recognition they deserved and go legit in the market as authentic sellers. Today, Tanjore painting has become one of the most sought-after novelties by people which has resulted in a resurgence of interest in Tanjore art. Traditionally trained Tanjore artists are now running their own shops and even doing art on commissions. Tanjore paintings are here to stay! Buying traditional Indian art online has become easy and today you can buy various authentic art online like Cheriyal paintings, Madhubani art or Patachitra
Conclusion
Tanjore art is special, exquisite and a novelty. Tanjore art fetches a pretty good price given the amount of work that goes into making one in the first place. The story of Tanjore art is one of India’s premium art histories. The maximalist approach of Thanjavur paintings with minimal usage of colours is an underappreciated part of it.
FAQs on Tanore Paintings or Thanjavur Art
Tanjore paintings originated in the town of the same name and belong to the state of Tamil Nadu.
Tanjore art originated as an art movement under the reign of Vijayanagara Rayas (1509-29).
Tanjore paintings are made on a wooden plank where the canvas is stuck with the help of an Arabic gum or synthetic adhesives. It can last forever.
The Thanjavur art style is unique in that it does not use a lot of colours and uses embellishments. Tanjore art uses the most vibrant forms of reds, blues, and greens; and accents them with marble dust and gold foils.
In older days natural dyes were used, these days general synthetic and acrylic paints are used.
Tanjore paintings originated under the Vijayanagara Rayas monarchy. It reached its absolute zenith under the art and aesthetic savant Krishnadevaraya, especially from 1509 to his death in 1529.
Tanjore painting was an art movement that took inspiration from old Chola paintings and had the support of the Vijayanagara Empire.
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