Jignasa Journal Of History Of Ideas And Culture Part 02

Author(s): Vibha Upadhyaya and Others
Publisher: University of Rajasthan

Page 33

Certain Specimens of Painting in Peshwa Period
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Maharashtra could be explained in two ways- either, such picturisation was a part of the general trend of the paintings of Rajasthan to which the painters were habituated or this was made to order by the sardārs who commissioned these painters. (See fig. no.1) The celebration of festivals has figured in the wall paintings. The popular Ganesh festival for example has the scene of the ladies worshipping Lord Ganesh in Maharashtrian sarees and performing the worship inside the havelis. Another festival that has found place in the wall- paintings often was the colour festival of Holi. Started during the time of Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao out of emulation of the practice in Rajasthan, the places of Gokul and Vrindavan were depicted in the wall paintings must have generated a lot of vibrancy. Usually, the picturisation is seen as Krishna standing in the middle while the surrounding gopis have dipped their colour-sprinkling instruments in colour and are shown splashing colour on Krishna. The gopis are painted as wearing the traditional Rajasthani ghägrā and choli or in the nine yard sarecs of Maharashtra. Some of the paintings reflect the detailing of the contemporary textiles like paithani or chandrakalā (black saree with rich golden or silver buttās). The typical headgear of the men of Maharashtra also is seen in some paintings. Basically, like the miniature paintings, these paintings show fantastic detailing at times. The mythological scenes like Samudramanthan, Sitā Swayamvar, Draupadi Swayamvar or Krishna lifting the Govardhan Mountain on his little finger worthily occupy the space of some walls. The details like Ram breaking the Shivadhanusya in Sita Swayamvar and Arjun piercing the eye of the fish while looking at its reflection in water in Draupadi Swayamvar can be given as further illustrations of the skills of painters painting the miniatures. The trees depicted in the paintings show variety as rounded trees, small trees with broad leaves and tapering cypress trees.
Later, the first British Resident Sir Charles Malet induced Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao 10 establish a school of drawing in his Shaninārādā wherein painter Mr. James Wales who made the portraits of Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao, Nana Phadnis and Mahadaji Shinde opened a small school. Wales trained many upcoming Indian artists out of whom Gangaram Tambat proved to be very proficient."
New Cultural Objects in Painting:
A new wave of culture emerged in the Deccan with the arrival of Shahu and more so when he became Chhatrapati. The influence of the Mughal culture on him appears to be quite noticeable when one goes through the historical records that reflect upon the orders placed by him to his Peshwas who thereby would ask their northern sardārs to get the objects. As per one letter Shahu had given Rs. 5,000/- to Peshwa Bajirao i to purchase two hawks for himself. The ferocious animals also were ordered as is indicative from one letter. It states the order for a tiger and a tigress. One letter from Shahu to the Peshwa is specifically about the planning that was required for bringing different birds and animals from Himalayas for Shahu. There is a mention of Iraqi' horse, Kasturi Alriga or a type of deer, whose naval has unparalleled fragrance, bisons and the birds known as Himapakshi. The latter three were available in the area of Srinagar. After investigation about the birds mentioned herein it was known from the Peshwa's vakil in Srinagar that it was difficult to get a live himapakshi. It was also reported that the bisons and the deer could be procured after Vijayadashmi (Dashahara) or sometime around the Dinali days. The Peshwa was expected to get them and arrange for their delivery at Satara by the winter season. A letter of 1740 states that Amarsingh Bundele, the Peshwa's officer, had sent hawks and other hunting animals of prey for Shahu from North India. The word himapakshi refers to Himalayan Pheasant. This bird was considered to be an auspicious bird for the