The school of painting that had flourished under sponsorship of kings of south India was tagged as Deccan School of Miniature painting. The artists who practiced this style lived in the cities of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda, and Aurangabad.
History
Miniature Paintings style had evolved in Northern part of India. It developed under the active support of Mughal Emperors and Rajput Kings of India during seventeenth and eighteenth century. India is a vast country, so the art travelled to the south part of the land, too. The art of painting carried with it the influence and flavor of the culture it represented. The art of painting prevalent in other parts of India were greatly influenced by what was going on in north part. During the same period, Deccan Miniature painting school was operative in southern part of India.
Materials Used in Deccan Miniatures
Deccan Miniature artists used the same materials their counterparts in north India used. These artists depicted their art on paper, ivory articles, wooden furniture, and other pieces made from leather and marble. They used even cloth made from silk and cotton fibers. Some of the paintings are on the walls of temples and houses of the princes.
Style of Painting
For conveying reality that was beyond specific vantage point, the Mughal miniature artists had employed concept of multiple perspectives. The artists of Deccan miniatures also applied the same technique in their artworks. However the stories depicted by the paintings were different.
If we observe their work with artistic eyes, we can see that the Deccan artists were influenced by the style of Persian and Turkish painters. However they had tried creating a synthesis of foreign and indigenous styles of painting. That resulted in a great mix of a charming tradition. We can see that most of the paintings done under this style were theme based artworks.
It was not that the Deccan miniature artists copied the works done in the northern part of country. They had refined the style that was prevalent in seventeenth century. While maintaining the rhythmic delicacy of mughal miniatures, Deccan painters had added the sensuality of southern art into their paintings.
The male figures painted by these artists were charming and their complexions were fair. They looked emotionally charged. The females painted were more sensual than the women painted in mughal miniatures. These artists had also injected the elements of restraint and reality, which they had borrowed from contemporary European artists.
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