The graceful and awe-inspiring form of the elephant has inspired many paintings. Elephant Paintings are indeed a school of Art in themselves. Some famous Schools Of Elephant paintings are Kotah Paintings and Ganesha paintings.
Kotah Elephant Paintings
Kotah painters captured movements in animals, particularly elephants, better than any other artists. Although they made their elephants lively they also managed to indicate massive bulk and strength. They concentrated on the huge energy of the animal, rather than the impressive decoration seen in Deccani paintings of elephants. In the 18th century the favourite royal sport was tiger hunting from mounted elephants through lush jungle scenery, and pictures of these hunts are the most exciting Kotah paintings, especially between 1720-1870
The Angry Elephant
One of the most popular and acclaimed Kotah Paintings is that of The Angry Elephant. The initial sketch of this painting is done with charcoal. The only completed part is the elephant's head finished in black and brown ink with white highlights. It is probably a preliminary sketch for a painting of two elephants fighting - the other one is not shown. Attendants, trying to deter the beast with firecrackers, run for cover, as the mahout appears to have lost control. An outline of the Maharaja watching can be seen on the top right balcony.
The legend of Ganesha
Ganesha is a venerated Hindu god and is said to be the offspring of Goddess Parvati. According to a legend it is said that Goddess Parvati, before taking an elaborate bath, wanted someone to stand guard at the door.
Not finding anyone, she created the idol of a child from the sandalwood paste that she had applied on herself, and breathed life into it. She told the boy she had created not to let anyone in, and went to have her bath. When her husband, Lord Shiva came home, the child could not recognize him and refused to let him in. Shiva was furious, and severed the head of the child.
When she learnt that the child she had created was dead, Parvati was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him immediately. Shiva ordered his lieutenants to get the head of any creature that was sleeping with its head facing north. The servants returned with the head of an elephant. Shiva joined the elephant's head to the boy's body, and Parvati's child lived again.
Ganesha Paintings
No Hindu ritual can begin without the invocation of the Elephant God or Ganesha. Hindu households and indeed art lovers all over the world have found an ideal icon in this somewhat funny yet genial looking elephant man. The acceptance of Ganesha as a divine force stills the rational mind and its doubts forcing one to look beyond outer appearances.
However colorful and ingenious Ganesha Paintings are not only religious icons they are aesthetic pieces of art.
The legend of Ganesha
Ganesha is a venerated Hindu god and is said to be the offspring of Goddess Parvati. According to a legend it is said that Goddess Parvati, before taking an elaborate bath, wanted someone to stand guard at the door.
Not finding anyone, she created the idol of a child from the sandalwood paste that she had applied on herself, and breathed life into it. She told the boy she had created not to let anyone in, and went to have her bath. When her husband, Lord Shiva came home, the child could not recognize him and refused to let him in. Shiva was furious, and severed the head of the child.
When she learnt that the child she had created was dead, Parvati was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him immediately. Shiva ordered his lieutenants to get the head of any creature that was sleeping with its head facing north. The servants returned with the head of an elephant. Shiva joined the elephant's head to the boy's body, and Parvati's child lived again.
Ganesha Paintings
No Hindu ritual can begin without the invocation of the Elephant God or Ganesha. Hindu households and indeed art lovers all over the world have found an ideal icon in this somewhat funny yet genial looking elephant man. The acceptance of Ganesha as a divine force stills the rational mind and its doubts forcing one to look beyond outer appearances.
However colorful and ingenious Ganesha Paintings are not only religious icons they are aesthetic pieces of art.
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