Tanjore Paintings

Originated in the Thanjavur during the Marathapainting the painters use limestone and any binging
period in the 16th century, Tanjore paintingsmedium. In the earlier times the paintings were
signify a unique and colorful world. This one of thecreated by the natural colors, which now have
popular forms of South India depicts the scenesbeen replaced with the chemical colors. If studied
from Indian ancient scriptures of Hindu religion. Forproperly, you will understand that the artists use
its use of precious stones, ornaments, exoticvery specific colors to make each and every
media like ivory, mirror, mica and rich colors thepainting, like green or red for the background and
Tanjore paintings hold a distinct place in thedark brown for outline. They use yellow color to
history of Indian paintings.paint the Goddesses, blue color to represent sky
The Tanjore paintings typically have one figure,and so on.
usually a Hindu God, Goddess or saint withThese paintings are broadly classified into three
beautiful appearance and eyes. You will see theparts, namely antique, classic, and embossed. In
images of Hindu Gods like Vishnu-Lakhmi, Shivaantique paintings the colors and backgrounds are
-Parvati, Lord Ganesh, and Krishna in majority ofquite moderate. The classic Tanjore paintings
the Tanjore paintings. The artists primarily use thehave very strong and varied colors, which have
gems of various colors and gold leaves to createenhanced with high glitter gold foil. Lastly, the
a highly durable glow in these paintings.embossed paintings are quite similar to classic
The paintings are usually made on wood and clothpaintings and most of them are super embossed.
made canvass. To add a 3D effect on the