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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
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Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
74 indigenously in and around Bikaner. These painters did not ristrict themselves to the decoration of palace interiors or hawelis of rich merchants alone, but catered to the needs of common people also. Not only did they paint or decorate during social events like marriage or birth occasions but also rendered to the needs of religious ceremonies, festivals and other events. Surprisingly, for all this work, the painters got one coconut, 4 annas (1/4 of rupee), one seer of grain and in cetain cases, small quantity of gur (jaggery) in return.
Looking to the style of painting of the Mathen painters it becomes obvious that they may have been influenced by the Muslim painters of Bikaner". Their execution however is rather perfunctory and rough and lakcs the refin sed quality of the Bikaner school. In the course of prolific architectural activity in Bikaner during the reign of Karan Singh (died 1657), his successor Gaj Singh (1745-80) and his followers, the interiors of palaces were painted by the Mathen people. Karan Mahal was renovated in 1755 and the chaubara of Karan Mahal Chowk, the Phool Mahal, the Sheesh Mahal of Gaj Mandir and many other edifices bear an unmistakable mark of the Mathen painters.
5. Karl Khandalavala. Moti Chandra and Pramod Chandra, Miniature • Painting. A catalogue of the Sri. Motichand Khajanchi collection held by
the Lalit Kalal Academi, Bombay 1960.
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