Culture is a dynamic force that complements the life pattern of a society. It reflects the procession of time and the interlocking patterns of migratory influences in the arts and other progressions of life.
Ancient Tamil Nadu, in southern India, comprised of three kingdoms, the Chera, the Chola, and the Pandya. The kingdom of Chera corresponds roughly to the area of the present state of Kerala, the Chola corresponds to the northern area of Tamil Nadu and the Pandya to the southern area of Tamil Nadu.
The Chola kingdom, its capital, Thanjavur can be called the gift of Cauvery. The word Thanjavur reflects the meaning of “a place of refuge” (thanjam) in Tamil. The land of Tanjore has been a background of mythology, the God of Wealth, Kubera ruled from this place.
During the reign of Rajaraja Cholan, many sculptors and painters from Andhra came to Tanjore. The Vaishnavite element in the paintings entered the “chitrakootam”. The walls of the Ramaswamy temple in Kumbakonam were painted with the Ramayana episode and the Ramar Pattabhishekam scene painted there was adopted for Tanjore Painting by the Andhra painters.
The Tanjore painters were of Telugu origin. There are two main communities of these families, Rajus in Thanjavur and Trichy and Nayudus in Madurai. They are both from the Andhra area and came to Thanjavur and Madurai seeking patronage after the disintegration of the Vijayanagar Empire. FR Hemingray in the Madras district gazette, Madras 1906, reports, “Some men of the Raju caste have painted very well in Tanjore. They paint on wooden slats or beautifully smooth cloth with a paste of powder and gum and their The drawing is correct and the dyes used are astonishingly delicate and uniform. ” This is a reference to the early Tanjore Painting artists of Tanjore.
Timelessness is one of those words that happily floats, it is a quality that we generally assume that “great art” has, while lesser works of art do not.
To quote an essay, “Great art always has two qualities in relation to temporality. It is of its moment: any art cannot avoid being shaped by the realities of the time, but great art also reflects and shapes its moment, and it does so in a different way than the equally great art of an earlier age. It is timely. At the same time, great art transcends its moment, it communicates powerfully long after its creation. It is timeless. “
Tanjore painting is closely associated and interrelated with Hinduism, its tradition, puranas, and epics.
The pillar is God and goddesses who were objects of worship since time immemorial. The first painters were called to paint the walls of temples, palaces, Durbar corridors with mythological and Puranic themes. Painters were also asked to paint portraits of the royal family. They were on the payroll of the royal treasury.
The art of painting was generally hereditary. The training in painting was passed down from generation to generation, passed down to the family by the elderly and experienced. In an orthodox teaching method that involves a combination of tradition and innovation, the training covers a period of three years.
In the first year, after the auspicious initiation, the student is taught to prepare freehand designs, which include the various mudras of Deities, the outline of the Deities, flowers and animals, curtains, ornaments, angels in line drawings. Along with the pencil drawings, the outlines of the various parts of the body, proportion, clothing such as dhotis, saris, and ornaments are taught. Later, the brush practice begins. Pencil models are also taught. Along with and immediately after brush practice, the application of shades of color is taught.
Today, Tanjore’s paintings are made on a wooden board, richly embossed with a 22-karat gold foil, adorned with semi-precious stones. A variety of subjects, from Hindu gods / goddesses to Jesus, Mother Mary, and jewelry and musical instruments are depicted in today’s tanjore paintings.
At Timeless Tanjore, we strive to make every painting timeless. Our focus on high-quality materials such as waterproof, termite-proof, kitply wood base, original 24 karat gold foil, 100% authentic Jaipur gemstones, and natural paint pigments ensure that your Tanjore paint will hold up. the test of time. Divine subjects also demand that the painting be of a beautiful and admirable nature, and we make sure that each painting of us evokes devotion and steals the hearts of the viewers.
We also take Tanjore Painting classes in Bangalore.
Visit http://www.timelesstanjore.com for more details on Tanjore Painting and Tanjore Painting classes.