This Miniature Artist of the 17th Century was well known for his battle paintings. He was a court painter of the Mughal emperor Jehangir. He was actively involved in painting the illustrations of the books Jahangir commissioned ranging from literary works such as the Razmnama (a Persian translation of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata) to historical texts, including an illustrated version of the memoirs of his reign, the Tuzuk-i Jahangiri. His works are characterized by delicate brushwork and effusive use of colors. He used varied substances for coloring his drawings, namely- minerals, vegetables, precious stones, indigo, conch shells, pure gold and silver.
Miniature Paintings- Govardhan’s chosen Art Form
Govardhan was a renowned Miniature artist. He contributed a lot in the evolvement of this art form. Miniature Painting as an art form however, did not propagate individual fame of artists. It’s unfortunate that most Miniature Artists languish in anonymity because the style is prioritized to the content. In that respect Govardhan was an exception. He gained much acclaim in his lifetime and indeed way beyond it.
Govardhan’s Paintings
Govardhan engaged himself with varied themes. Whether it was gardens or battle scenes he was equally adept in handling both. The permanence of the painted garden then, as demonstrated the paintings by Govardhan, symbolized a lasting, eternal beauty, far beyond the temporality of human experience. His painting of Shah Jahan riding with his eldest son Dara Shikoh was quite popular.
|
