Tanjore paintings, originating from the 16th-century town of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, are revered as "religious paintings with a royal heritage." Adapting to modern materials like posters and acrylic colors along with natural hues, this art form has retained its traditional essence. This blog is an overview of the history, technique, and materials of Tanjore painting that make it stand out as the pride of Indian art.
When we think of Indian art, many of us immediately imagine resplendent depictions of the Hindu gods. We think of bright colors, beatific poses, and gold leaf. Whether we know it or not, what we are thinking of are Tanjore (Thanjavur) paintings. Also known as “religious paintings with a royal heritage,” this form of south Indian visual art began in the town of Tanjore in the 16th century.
Radha Swings with Krishna Tanjore Painting
These oil paintings have been made by indigenous artists for generations, and it is kept alive by practitioners who faithfully replicate the old ways and the beloved style. When we examine this genre, we find so much intertwined in the story: history, religion, and art all mixed. The masterpieces this style has left behind and the contributions it still makes today express an inexhaustible vitality rarely seen in the art world.
Over the last two centuries, art has become a place where styles come and go, where the wave swells and crests and disappears within ten years. But Tanjore paintings remain. Is it because of the access they grant us to the divine? Is it because of the inherent beauty and splendor? Let’s take a close look and discover what makes Tanjore paintings a permanent part of the art landscape.
The style has a few major trademarks:
☛ Depiction of Hindu deities, or sometimes nobility
☛ Bright colors
☛ Iconic compositions
☛ Architectural framing
☛ Gold foil
☛ Inlays of beads and precious or semi-precious gems
☛ Gesso undercoat
☛ Painted on wooden planks
Lord Venkateshvara as Balaji Tanjore Painting
These make up the main features, but when we look at them, we see there is another quality — one harder to grasp with words. It’s the presence of the divine, an ability to relate the gods to ourselves. In this way, Tanjore paintings awaken within us the Atman, that Higher Self in us that always was, always is, and always will be the whole of the cosmos.
Tanjore paintings typically make little use of perspective, instead favoring a two-dimensional layout. The subjects are almost always depicted with softened and circular features. These two choices lend a certain storybook unreality to the paintings, making them at the same time less directly realistic while also much more relatable. The color choices are one of the most striking elements of any Tanjore painting.
Rama Darbar Tanjore Painting
For instance, the sky is often painted black — allowing the colors of the scene to almost glow. There is also frequent use of a deep, scarlet red. Because many of the gods are depicted with blue skin, the contrast allows both colors to vibrate off the canvas. No matter the individual choices of the artist, the colors are always rich and bright. This is an important part of the style’s exuberance.
The architectural motifs are ubiquitous. These create a frame within a frame, while also giving the artist the chance to use inlays and gold leaf to decorate the painting. This in part lends itself to another important feature: the stiff tableaus and poses of the subjects. Those poses make the paintings feel like a direct address to the viewer, a way for them to understand the significance of what they bear witness to, and it gives the subjects an auspicious presentation.
Several materials are involved in making a Tanjore painting. Most of these are locally sourced while some are obtained from distant markets.
☛ Wooden base, made from jackfruit or teakwood tree wood provides a sturdy and durable base for the painting.
☛ Stones, also called Jaipur stones for decoration of the painting.
☛ Chalk powder which is mixed with gum to prepare a thick paste, is used to add texture and a characteristic “raised effect” to the Tanjore canvas.
☛ Gold foil, of 24 or 22-karat gold used for decoration of the embossed area in the painting.
☛ Colors, poster color as well as natural colors are used. With the arrival of a variety of colors, Tanjore artists are experimenting with colors, but traditionally, hues made from natural sources such as flowers, turmeric, and stones were used and some master artists still continue this tradition.
☛ Brushes available in the market
In 1336 CE, Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty established the Vijayanagara Empire in south India. They were from a simple cowherd community, yet they united to fight off Islamic invaders. Over the next two centuries, the Empire cultivated a distinct culture with lasting influence in the region today. The empire was incredibly diverse and liberalized.
The region’s contact with Islam was centuries old at this point, leading to much cultural exchange. And they protected many forms of Hindu painting against the ongoing tide of Islamic conquerors. The leaders also made sure to welcome all forms of Hindu practice. For this reason, the architecture, sculpture and painting that occurred in the empire is still upheld as a great flowering of human creativity.
Thanjavur – A Cultural History
By the 16th century, repeated military defeats led to the destruction of the empire. With cities falling, painters in the traditional style once protected and patronized by the empire migrated to safer places, including Tanjore. It is in Tanjore where the traditional style mixed with the preferences of local patrons.
In this context, Tanjore painting as we know it sprouted. Over the intervening centuries, many tropes and conventions were created, altered, and passed on. But while there has certainly been development, artists have made sure to keep the fundamental style intact. When we view these paintings, we are witnessing history and the present meet. We are feeling the impact of a long-fallen empire and the passion of living, breathing artists.
Tanjore paintings begin by preparing the surface. Jackfruit or teak wooden panels are covered with a canvas, using Arabic gum as an adhesive. The canvas is then covered in either French chalk or powdered limestone with a binding agentadded. Once dried, an outline is sketched, and gesso is applied. Then, inlay and gold leaf are applied. These ornamental features cover the architectural elements in the composition, like pillars and arches. The artist then uses oil paints to color in the scene.
Thanjavur Paintings: Materials, Technique and Conservation
For many, this style of art is important because of its beauty and its ability over the last five centuries to keep a tradition intact. But above and beyond the aesthetic or historic importance, these paintings have brought countless numbers of people in closer contact with the divine. When we look at a Tanjore painting, we not only see gods. We see them the same way people have for half a millenia — even longer. That staggering time scale includes so many who have been born and died, so often to be born again. Amid all that, paintings in this style have been a reliable well of inspiration, a balm to difficulties of existence, and a guide to liberation.
Why are Tanjore paintings costly?
Tanjore paintings are costly due to the raw material used- pure gold and gemstones, the highly skilled craftsmanship, and the time taken to make a single painting. While smaller Tanjores are affordable, larger, intricately made pieces from the workshops of trained artists are expensive.
Is it good to keep Tanjore painting at home?
Yes, traditionally Tanjore paintings are considered an auspicious art form which is why many Tamil households have at least one Tanjore painting. The use of gold is considered a pure and sacred metal and the subject and themes involving Hindu gods and goddesses make Tanjore paintings a revered and cherished art form.
How can you tell a real Tanjore painting?
The embossed quality is one of the most visible ways of identifying a Tanjore painting but other markers such as the use of pure gold, traditional colors, and visible brushstrokes and details are signs of a handcrafted Tanjore painting. Buying handicrafts and artworks from a trusted brand is also a simple way of ensuring that your purchases are authentic.
Why Tanjore painting is different from other schools of painting?
Tanjore paintings are unique because of the use of pure gold, the raised effect due to gesso work, devotional themes involving Hindu gods and goddesses and sacred subjects, and the use of precious or semi-precious stones in decoration.
What paint is used for Tanjore painting?
Tanjore paintings were traditionally made with natural colors or mineral dyes obtained from stone. Nowadays, poster colors and acrylic colors are also used by artists in addition to natural hues.
What is the difference between Tanjore and Mysore paintings?
The key differences between Tanjore and Mysore paintings are-
☛ Themes - Tanjore paintings have a religious and sacred subject matter while Mysore paintings have a blend of religious and cultural themes.
☛ Material - Tanjore paintings use gold foil and stones while Mysore paintings use gold leafs and pigments.
☛ Style - Tanjore paintings have a three-dimensional appearance, while Mysore paintings have a relatively flat canvas with richer details.
What is the meaning of Tanjore?
Tanjore or Thanjavur is the name of a town in Tamil Nadu where the iconography of Tanjore paintings originated, in the decoration of temple walls.
Is real gold used in Tanjore painting?
Yes, traditional Tanjore paintings are made with 22-karat gold foil that is fragile, difficult to work with, and requires dexterity and focus from the artist.
Which board is used for Tanjore painting?
A wooden board or plywood board is used for Tanjore paintings with canvas cloth stretched on it.
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