Thanjavur Painting
Gods, gold and gemstones are at the heart of this four hundred year old art form of palagai oviyam, better known as Thanjavur painting. The art began as visual representations of the Gods and Goddess described in detail in the Hindu scriptures and extended to Royal portraiture. The rise of the style coincided with the wave of Vaishnavism in Southern India. Themes are mostly based on the Vishnu puranas with Baby Krishna, holding a pot of butter being the most recurring visual in these paintings. The painting style is a historically developed amalgamation of Nayak, Maratha and British elements and it is is bold in style and character. While the overall effect is striking, fine lines, gradation washes of skin tones and kayal vizhi eyes (the much loved fish- shaped eye romanticized by Tamil poets) are a testament to the devotion with which the traditional art form has been practiced in Thanjavur.
