Sikh Miniature Paintings: Patronage, Extension, Stylistic Borrowings & Influences

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Sikh Miniature Paintings Patronage, Extension Stylistic Borrowings & Influences is an attempt at transcribing miniature paintings of Punjab scientifically and systematically Terms Sikh Miniature Paintings adopted as the title of this book has been used in the broader a sense. It refers not only darshan of Sikh Gurus but also includes varied styles and artists active for Sikh patrons in Punjab Undoubtedly the paintings from erstwhile Punjab have different characteristics, but they have the same spirit, which gave a particular character and flavour to Sikh art and distinguishes it from its Mughal and Rajput predecessors.
In this book, I have given major findings of recent research on Sikh paintings No doubt, there may be differences of opinion on details. This book mainly deals with the early portrayals, social identity of Sikhs, emergence of art in Punjab during different phases and painters. It is for the first time that a scientific and systematic analysis of paintings have been done Images construe the anecdote of society, in which they emerged. Sikh miniature paintings grew widely in Punjab nurturing with varied styles. Like the diverse culture of Punjab Sikh paintings vision through multiple phases and phraseologies. Influence of geography and ethnicity of Punjab mirror in Sikh paintings Punjab absorbed Mughal Rajput and Sikh culture broadly, acknowledged as Punjabi Pre-Mughal and Mughal period artistic idioms formed the base of Sikh paintings, emerged among early Sikh community Like other native Schools of India. Sikh paintings developed with the merger of folk and Mughal idioms Difference in faith caused a distinct identity to the Sikhs, while changing centers of Sikh power caused the variation in style of Sikh paintings. Thus, the paintings of Punjab are of Punjab culture, mesmerizing Persian, Mughal, Rajput, Kashmiri and folk feelings, which can be classified today as Sikh paintings. While scholars named Sikh paintings as Mughal- Sikh, Kashmiri-Sikh or Pahari Sikh, but a unique and universal identity is reflected in different styles applied for Sikh paintings, which force one to call the ‘paintings of the Sikhs’. Sikhism is not too old and Mughal impression on every field of life was also merged in depth. Even Rajput community had also absorbed social appearance of Mughal monarchs, which reflected in their paintings and sometimes Rajput character is misidentified as Mughal noble. Nevertheless, separate identity of Sikhs granted by tenth Guru, had not only immersed by the painters, but also influenced the Rajput aristocracy under Sikh dominance and their visuals, originally refused by their ancestors.