The Bundi School is an important school of the Rajasthani style of Indian miniature painting that lasted from the 17th to the end of the 19th century in this princely state of Bundi ruled by Hadoti Rajputs.
One of the earliest examples of the Bundi Paintings is the Chunar Ragamala painted in 1561. Bundi paintings emphasized on hunting, court scenes, festivals, processions, life of nobles, lovers, animals, birds and scenes from Lord Krishna's life.
The Bundi School had a close association with the Mughal style yet it was never fundamental to the evolution and growth of Bundi paintings, however the delicacy of the Mughal style was also not abandoned.
The Chitrashala, which is also known as the Ummed Mahal, is a part of the Garh Palace. It was built in the 18th Century, and forms a set of rooms on an elevated podium above the garden courtyard. The famous Chitra Shala in Bundi provides a colourful glimpse of history. The walls, ceiling of this palace are completely covered with paintings of the Bundi school which are still in very good condition. These splendid paintings in the Chitrashala are par excellence and can be compared with probably the best anywhere in the world.
Bundi painting is an important school of the Rajasthani style of Indian miniature painting that originated in the princely state of Bundi, located between Jaipur and Udaipur.
The blend of Mughal and Deccani art elements in Bundi style are unique. Bundi paintings excelled in its illustrations of Krishna-Lila and Rasikapriya. Besides these the other themes that these paintings depict are Nayaka- Nayika Bheda, Baramasa, Harem or Zanana, Hunting and Portraits.
These miniature paintings are crafted with meticulous details and brushwork .These vibrant works of art are painted with colors that are essentially made from minerals and vegetables, precious stones, as well as pure silver and gold. They showcase the flora and fauna of the beauty of the Bundi forests with Ragini as the central theme.
Ragini is a representation of various avatars of Ragas amidst seasons and changing landscapes of Bundi For instance, the flowing rivers, dense forests, lush green fields of Bundi region, dramatic night skies, a distinctive way of depicting water by light swirls against a dark background, and vivid movement.
They were a blend of ‘real’ and ‘imagined’. The Mughal influence is visible in the refined drawing of the faces and an element of naturalism in the treatment of the trees.
We have been working with Bundi miniature painting for over 3 years across our various collection stories. Our artisan is a 35 year old veteran of the craft form and we have been working with him to develop a unique design language, usage of the art and its application in the context of art today.
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