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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
80 Miniature Painting 4.1 Survey of Mewar, Marwar and Bikaner Schools and
their contribution to Jain Painting.
The early wall painting phase of Ajanta, Bagh, Sittanavasal. Ellora and Brihadeshwara starting from the 1st century AD/BC, comes to an end by the closing years of the 9th century. This unique and are inspiring the caves, chaityas, pillars, ceilings etc., depict Buddhist Jataka Stories and decorative elements of floral and geometrical patterns. Executed in earth colours (natural hues) and incorporating the norms dictated by the text of the chitrasutra of the Vishnudharmottara Purana (Ca. 4th cent. A.D.) Which, in all its details, stands as a guide to the painter in so far as the technique and aesthetics of wall painting in concerned.
A hundred years after this monumental activity, springs up a tradition of miniature painting on narrow wooden boards and palm leaves starting in Eastern and Western India almost simultaneously in the 11th and 12th century A.D. The former adhering to the monastic paintings of the Buddhist faith while the latter propagating Jainism in the form of illustrated manuscripts adorned with pictures and exquisite calligraphy. This marks the beginning of miniature painting tradition in India for the first time. It is however inconceivable to accept such a vast difference in the concept, technique and size of the murals on
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