One tradition, many lives: The Indian miniature
We welcome some priceless miniature paintings into our collection, including the Mughal Hamzanama by exploring the many traditions of this practice in the Sarmaya collection
Miniature Painting
Portrait of Horse Fatem Marakha, a personal ride of Maharana Pratap
This miniature painting depicts Maharana Pratap Singh’s Horse Fatem Marakha. Maharaja Pratap Singh (1764-1803) of Jaipur was the younger son of Maharaja Madho Singh. He ascended to the throne at 14 and reigned for over 25 years. Following the decline of Mughal court paintings, the Rajput and Pahari schools of painting increased in popularity. During… Read more »
Portrait of Horse Dilsringar, the ride of Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh
This miniature painting depicts Maharana Pratap Singh’s horse Dilsringar painted using opaque pigment on paper in the 18th century. Maharaja Pratap Singh (1764-1803) of Jaipur was the younger son of Maharaja Madho Singh. He ascended to the throne at 14 and reigned for over 25 years. Poems, art, and architecture were among Maharaja’s passions. The… Read more »
Now reading: The stories every picture tells
An initiation into the Sarmaya team involves the confrontation of and acclimating to certain books from our library. New ‘uns are told this is necessary reading meant to familiarise them with the genres of the collection. Each object inhabits a world that is resonant and multi-faceted and it’s impossible to know where to start. “Today… Read more »
Wild Things
Created using oil paint and 22 ¾ gold leaf on Gesso panels, Jethro Buck’s painting ‘Wild Things’ borrows and meshes together a potpourri of images from across the global landscape – from pastoral England to Mughal India. This miniature style painting teases a range of dynamic figures – animal and human – who go about… Read more »
Painted Photograph of Maharana Bhupal Singh of Udaipur
In the West, the hand-painting of photographs was limited to adding subtle highlights or making minor corrections. In India, however, the technique took a unique and characteristically vibrant turn. Despite their initial infatuation with the medium, Indian royals soon started to feel something was missing in black-and-white photographs. Something of the grandeur and magnificence of… Read more »
The Time-Lapse Art of Gopa Trivedi
A series of five paintings by the artist explores how apathy spreads like a stain on the consciousness of people and nations
Prayer at Gethsemane
This painting is an interpretation, Jesus prays to his father on the night before his crucifixion. The artist Manish Soni has employed a distinctive Hamzanama trope to convey the intensity and pathos of this scene.
Raising of Lazarus
This folio titled ‘Raising of Lazarus’ is a part of the Issanama series. The Issanama commission lies at the intersection of art and history, and offers lush evidence of the plurality and syncretism inherent in Indian culture. It’s an artistic collaboration between the founder of Sarmaya, Paul Abraham and traditional miniaturist and third-generation artist, Manish… Read more »
Calming the Storm III
This folio titled ‘Calming the Storm III’ is a part of the Issanama series. The Issanama commission lies at the intersection of art and history, and offers lush evidence of the plurality and syncretism inherent in Indian culture. It’s an artistic collaboration between the founder of Sarmaya, Paul Abraham and traditional miniaturist and third-generation artist, Manish… Read more »
Calming the Storm II
This folio titled ‘Calming the Storm II’ is a part of the Issanama series. The Issanama commission lies at the intersection of art and history, and offers lush evidence of the plurality and syncretism inherent in Indian culture. It’s an artistic collaboration between the founder of Sarmaya, Paul Abraham and traditional miniaturist and third-generation artist, Manish… Read more »
Calming the Storm I
This folio titled ‘Calming the Storm I’ is a part of the Issanama series. The Issanama commission lies at the intersection of art and history, and offers lush evidence of the plurality and syncretism inherent in Indian culture. It’s an artistic collaboration between the founder of Sarmaya, Paul Abraham and traditional miniaturist and third-generation artist, Manish… Read more »
Calming the Storm (triptych)
This intricately detailed triptych tells the story of Jesus calming the storm. The first of the panels, Jesus stands at the bank of the river, pointing towards the boat which will take him and his disciples to the island where they can rest.
The First Miracle at Cana
This folio titled ‘The First Miracle at Cana’ is a part of the Issanama series. The Issanama commission lies at the intersection of art and history, and offers lush evidence of the plurality and syncretism inherent in Indian culture. It’s an artistic collaboration between the founder of Sarmaya, Paul Abraham and traditional miniaturist and third-generation… Read more »
The Last Supper
The scene here shows Jesus and his twelve apostles huddled around a fire, on what seems like a cold and silent night, for a simple meal. This painting is the artist’s homage to a great work by the 18th-century Pahari master Nainsukh.
The Baptism of Christ
This is a reinterpretation of the Biblical episode in the style of the Hamzanama original titled ‘The Prophet Elijah Rescuing Prince Nur ad Dahr’. The juxtaposition of the figures in this work with the original folio is interesting, and so is the clever replacement of Christ in place of the prince.
Jesus at the Temple
This folio titled ‘Jesus at the Temple’ is a part of the Issanama series. The Issanama commission lies at the intersection of art and history, and offers lush evidence of the plurality and syncretism inherent in Indian culture. It’s an artistic collaboration between the founder of Sarmaya, Paul Abraham and traditional miniaturist and third-generation artist,… Read more »
The Birth of Christ
This folio titled ‘The Birth of Christ’ is a part of the Issanama series. The Issanama commission lies at the intersection of art and history, and offers lush evidence of the plurality and syncretism inherent in Indian culture. It’s an artistic collaboration between the founder of Sarmaya, Paul Abraham and traditional miniaturist and third-generation artist,… Read more »
Inside India’s Great Traditional Karkhanas
Ten incredible styles of painting, sculpting and weaving that wouldn’t have existed without these visionary royal patrons
Birth of Christ
This is a later Mughal miniature showing the ‘Birth of Jesus Christ’. True to alm mughal miniatures of this time produced around European themes, the set=up and backdrop remains completely Indian. Women dressed in native outfits and veils are seen catering to the newborn as Mother Mary lies on a bed coccooned up in a… Read more »