DECCANI PAINTINGS

WHAT IS DECCANI PAINTINGS?

Deccani painting,  style of miniature painting that flourished from the late 16th century among the Deccani sultanates in peninsular India.

DECCANI STYLE

The style is a sensitive, highly integrated blend of indigenous and foreign art forms. 

Deccani colours are rich and luminous, and much use is made of gold and white.

The floral-sprigged backgrounds, high horizons, and general use of landscape show Persian influence..

Distinctive features of the Deccani paintings are observed in the treatment of the ethnic types, costumes, jewellery, flora, fauna, landscape and colours.

Notable works

Ahmednagar painting: This school was patronized by Hussain Nizam Shah I of Ahmednagar. The important illustrated manuscript is “Tarif-i-Hussain Shahi

Bijapur Paintings: This school was patronized by Ali Adil Shah I (1558-80 A.D.) and his successor Ibrahim II (1580-1627 A.D.).

i. Important and notable work is Najum-al-ulum (Stars of Sciences), which has as many as 400 miniature illustrations.

ii. Bijapur show influence of Lepakshi temple Murals, particularly in the depiction of the women.

Golconda Paintings: The patrons of the Golconda paintings were the Qutb Shahi rulers.

i. The first important work was accomplished during the times of Muhammad Quli Qutab Shah (1580-1611).

ii. These paintings show the dancing girls entertaining the VIPs. iii. The Qutb Shahi rulers had employed many Persian artists and so there is a profound impact of

Iranian art on the Golconda miniature paintings. iv. Two more notable paintings are the “Lady with the Myna bird” and the “Lady smoking Hooka”

Hyderabad Style: The paintings in Hyderabad style developed after the foundation of Asafjahi dynasty by Chin Qulick Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk in 1724. One example is a painting of “princes in the company of maids”.

Bijapur paintings

Sultan Abdulla Qutb Shah,Bijapur, circa 1940 A.D.,National Museum, New Delhi

Ragini Pathamsika,Bijapur/Ahmadnagar, circa

1595 A.D.,National Museum, New Delhi 

Golkonda paintings

Chand Bibi playing polo,Golkonda, circa 1750 A.D.,National Museum, New Delhi

Prince holding flower,Golconda, circa 1700 A.D.,

National Museum, New Delhi 

Raga Malkauns,Golconda, circa 1725,National Museum, New Delhi

Raga Kakubha,Golkonda, circa 1720 A.D.,

National Museum, New Delhi 

Raga Basant,Golkonda, circa 1690-1700,National Museum, New Delhi

Shahbaz Khan Kambo smoking huqqa,Golkonda, 1683 A.D.,National Museum, New Delh

Prince enjoying Music,Golkonda, circa 1710-20 A.D.,National Museum, New Delhi

Hyderabadi painting

Dancers,Hyderabad, circa 1750 A.D.,National Museum, New Delhi

Hazrat Nizam-ud-Awaliya, and Amir Khusro,Hyderabad, circa 1750-70 A.D.,National Museum, New Delhi

Ladies enjoying wine,Hyderabad, circa 1750 A.D.,National Museum, New Delhi

Lady observing austerity,Hyderabad, circa 1750 A.D.,National Museum, New Delhi

Princess with confident,Hyderabad, circa 1780 A.D.,National Museum, New Delhi

Thank youBy,

Ananya, Gauri, Nabonita, Shravani, Vineesha