Thanjavur Painting
タンジャーヴール絵画 / 17th century–present / Style / Persian and Indian Painting
Painting developed around Thanjavur, also known as Tanjore, in Tamil Nadu. Devotional works often centre a dominant icon with vivid colour, raised ornament, gilding and stones. Court portraits and processions on paper are another branch; their materials and compositions should not be reduced to the devotional-panel model.
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At a glance
Visual cues
- A dominant central figure in devotional images
- Strong red, green or blue grounds contrasting with gold
- Raised decoration or stones catching light
- Frontal icons distinguished from court portraits and processions
Best used for
- Explaining differences in use and material between South Indian devotional and court paintings
- Analysing the hierarchy of main figure, border and ornament in a publication
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Dictionary entry
- Type
- Explain iconography outside the work rather than inventing sacred names or lettering as ornament.
- Composition
- Study a dominant central subject and a horizontal procession as different compositions.
- Material
- Record colour, gold reflection and relief separately; distinguish court works on paper from decorated panels.
- Caution
- Gilding alone does not establish Thanjavur painting. Distinguish devotional icons, court portraits, contemporary market works and neighbouring traditions such as Mysore.
- Further study
- National Museum — Thanjavur devotional paintings / LACMA — Royal Procession with Raja Amar Singh, ca. 1790 / Impart Encyclopedia — Tanjore Painting
Related entries
- Mughal Miniature (ムガル細密画)Same Persian and Indian Painting lineage.Compare Thanjavur Painting and Mughal Miniature
- Odisha Pattachitra (オディシャのパタチトラ)Editorially linked for a useful contrast.Compare Thanjavur Painting and Odisha Pattachitra
More from Persian and Indian Painting
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- Persian Miniature (ペルシア細密画)Shared effects: Luxury / Calm.
- Kalighat Painting (カーリーガート絵画)
- Madhubani (ミティラー画（マドゥバニ）)
Browse all Persian and Indian Painting entries
Cite this entry
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- Link
- https://indexstyle.org/styles/thanjavur-painting
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- [Thanjavur Painting — IndexStyle](https://indexstyle.org/styles/thanjavur-painting)
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