Famous Miniature Paintings of India: An Interactive Display at Delhi Museum

The World of Miniatures

Miniature paintings are revered for their exhaustive and intricate portrayals of figures and landscapes. While they appear majestic and beautiful from a distance, a closer examination reveals something different — we get to appreciate those elaborate images and scripts with their infinitesimal details immortalized on palm leaves, manuscript pages, and paper (in the later period of creation) — artistic testimonies of a bygone era of grandeur.

Tracing the Early Roots of Miniature Art

Miniature paintings existed long before the Rajput or Mughal period in India, around the 7^th century AD. They can be traced back to the famous murals and cave paintings of Ajanta, showcasing paintings of Buddha deities. The Pala dynasty of Bengal played a pivotal role in patronizing miniature art to circulate the Buddhist teachings which were illustrated on palm leaf manuscripts – evoking subtle tonalities and grace in delicate paintings.

From the 12^th to the 14^th century AD, the drawings and paintings were done on palm leaves, but after the Persian invasion in the 14^th to 15^th century AD, paper replaced palm-leaf manuscripts. 

Art of Miniature Painting: The Process of Making Delicate Paintings

The miniature paintings are so exquisite in photographic detailing that they can capture even the obscure details in the images. The graceful forms, the elegance in hues, the lines and illustrations, everything matters. Even today, squirrel hair is used to make brushes. The traditional way of making these paintings was executed on a layered handmade paper called wasli, which was prepared by the artists only. The fine grain and textures of wasli were perfect for the delicate strokes.

If you try to feel the texture and the layers of elegance of the handmade papers on which this remarkable art is exhibited, there are replica samples to make the visitors feel the ecstasy of the art.

The Regional School of Miniature Paintings and Definitive Styles

miniature paintings evolved through definitive styles in different parts of India, showcasing artistic traditions such as Mughal, Rajasthani, Pahari, Deccan, etc.

1. Mughal miniatures

As already mentioned, after the Persian invasion, miniature art witnessed a period of change in style and composition. During the Mughal reign from the 16^th to the 18^th century AD, this art form also became richer with an amalgamation of Persian style and local art, including more details in the presentations. More and more hunting scenes and portrait art started to show up, with luxurious gold and blue hues appearing in many such artworks.

Most of the Mughal miniature paintings documented royal life and grandeur, achievements, and portraiture of kings and noble men, which were made prominent during emperor Akbar and Jehangir’s reign. Later, some European painting styles of light and shade (chiaroscuro) also influenced the paintings.

Mughal Miniatures | Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri | Ajmer 1620

2. Deccan Art of miniature

In the Southern part of India, in Hyderabad, Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golkonda, a distinctive style of miniature started to flourish during the 16^th to 19^th century. Initially, it started with religious themes like scriptures from the Quran. Later, Islamic painting combined Mughal influences with European, Iranian, and Turkish styles, giving way to romantic depictions.

Deccan Art of Miniature

3. Rajasthani and Pahari Styles

During the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, more and more miniature artists migrated to other princely courts due to lack of patronage and support. That is how Rajput miniature painting developed during the 17^th-18^th centuries, where more emphasis was given to the immortal love tales of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha, portraying other mythological figures from epic literature like Ramayana and Mahabharata, unlike the royal court scenes as seen in Mughal miniatures. Rajasthani miniature style flourished within schools of Kishangarh, Amber, Malwa and Mewar.

Rajput Miniature | Ragini Jaijavanti

4. Pahari Style of Miniature

   Another parallel style, the ‘Pahari’ miniature, evolved under the aegis of the Rajputs. As the name suggests, it originated from the mountainous region of Jammu and Himachal Pradesh, with an assimilation of Mughal miniature and Vaishnavite narratives. 

Pahari School had several distinct trends of the bolder Basohli art and the delicate Kangra style along with the Guler and Kulu-Mandi styles of miniature. The Pahari style that followed the Basohli trend featured bold hues, lotus-shaped eyes, a richly ornamented style, and multi-floor structures. The delicate Kangra style showcased lyricism and naturalism through the ‘Sringar’ of Radha and Krishna.  

Krishna and Radha | Pahari Miniature

Side-by-side comparisons of the different miniature Schools: -

School	Time Period	Origin/Place	Themes	Influenced by	Features (colour palette/motifs/figures, and more.)
Mughal	from 16th to 18th century AD	Northern part of India, such as Delhi, Agra.	Royal court scenes, hunting scenes, portraiture, grand achievements	Persian tradition and later influenced by European art.	Luxurious gold and blue hues, use of European chiaroscuro (light and shade) style.  It was famous for realistic depictions of flora and fauna.
Deccan	16th to 18th century AD	Southern India (Bijapur, Golkonda, Hyderabad)	Religious themes to romantic depictions	Islamic religious painting combined with Mughal, European, and Turkish influences	Exotic colours, elongated shapes and figures.
Rajasthani	16th to 19th century AD	Royal courts of Rajasthan	Mythology and celebration of divine love of Radha Krishna, epic literatures, scenes of festivals	The Local Western Indian influence and Mughal style	Decorative and stylized figures, illustrious with bold colours. Artists used plants and mineral dyes for colour and texture.
Pahari	17th to 19th century AD	Jammu and Himachal Pradesh	‘Sringar’ of Radha Krishna,	Mughal miniature and Vaisnavite tradition	Pahari miniature consists of Basohli and Kangra styles. Basohli featured boldness with ornamentation, lotus-         shaped eyes; Kangra style showed lyricism and naturalism.

Revisiting the Miniature Wonders: AR/VR and Audio-Enabled Tour in National Museum, Delhi  

The National Museum of Delhi has a dedicated miniature paintings gallery to rediscover the splendour and intricate artistry of a bygone era — to capture the rich narratives and minuscule details through multimedia interactive displays and audio-enabled tours. Visitors can magnify the micro detailing of jewellery, textile patterns with the help of high-resolution scanning.

The National Museum App uses AR (augmented reality) which lets visitors observe a painting thoroughly. While pointing their device at that particular artwork they can reveal hidden layers of paintings or underdrawings. Enhanced views are possible through digital magnifiers aimed at the reproduced images to see the brushstrokes, or granularity of pigments.

Creating Ambience with Classical Music and Ragas

The museum’s AR/VR gallery creates suitable ambience and acoustic zones that play Indian classical ragas to match the mood or subject of the famous miniature paintings of India. Through audio narrations, viewers are able to learn about the artists, cultural and historical contexts of creation, and symbolism embedded in those majestic images.

The warm neutral and calm colours selected for the viewing room enhance the VR presentation with controlled lighting for clarity of artworks. Visual symbols or signs are placed around the exhibition kiosk indicating sound stations and visual magnifiers for viewers to see the finer details of the artworks.

The intense storytelling, zooming, and augmented reality (AR) demonstrates how technology can be used to simulate the experience of a museum visit to access the wonderful world of miniatures.

Life in Miniature: Integrated Displays in the Digital Era

The intrinsic beauty of miniature art still remains an element of awe and wonder even after the craze died down after British rule in India. The projected displays show how the miniature style is adapted today in digital art, mixed media and animations.                                                                                                                                                   

The museum’s collection of paintings showcases miniature works from Deccan, Mughal, Rajasthani, and Pahari schools, adding depth and versatility to such an exhibition.

Revival of Miniature Paintings as a Timeless Heritage

Poet Jayadeva Worshipping Radha and Krishna | Basohli Miniature | Pahari Style

Though the art form lost its craze from the late 18^th to the 19^th century, artists from the late 19th to the early 20th century began re-exploring this heritage form by fusing traditional techniques with contemporary themes. The Bengal School of Art emerged with a keen eye for revisiting the rich Indian artistic legacy. And thus, eminent painters like Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose revived miniature styles, making them as relevant as ever.

Nothing matches the intricacy and elegance of Mughal and Rajput miniature painting or the bold ornamentation of Pahari miniatures. Even when explored through interactive multimedia, these paintings remain a subject of awe and admiration. 

In the contemporary world of flux and dynamism, miniature paintings let us slow down and look back at a rich heritage of storytelling that shapes our identities. They show how a timeless art form whispers the legacy of royal courts, enchanting flora and fauna in minuscule detail, weaving myths and memories of a lesser-known India.