At a glance
- Peak: Savant Singh's poetry and singing, Bani Thani's love of music and Nihalchand's pictures took the style to its height.
- Mona Lisa of India: Eric Dickinson's name for Bani Thani.
- Stamp: the Government of India issued a stamp on Bani Thani in 1973.
Facts
| Place | Kishangarh town, Ajmer district |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1609, by Kishan Singh |
| Golden age | Raja Savant Singh, 1748–1764 |
| Patron-poet | Savant Singh, known as Nagaridas |
| Chief painter | Mordhwaj Nihalchand |
| Famous work | Bani Thani |
| Main colours | White, pink, grey and vermilion |
Bani Thani
- Subject: Bani Thani, a singer who became Savant Singh's beloved, is painted as Radha, with Savant Singh as Krishna.
- Name: 'Bani Thani' means the decked-out lady.
How to recognise it
- Men: a long, slim, bluish body, white or moong-coloured turban set with pearls, high forehead, large reddish eyes drawn to the ears.
- Women: slender, long, fair, pointed chin, long neck, thin waist, long lotus-petal eyes.
- Scene: wide lakes with swans, ducks, cranes and boats; banana trees and colourful gardens; Radha-Krishna's play on a moonlit night; dawn and dusk clouds in vermilion.
Painters and patrons
- Patrons: the royal family's Vallabh sect devotion made Radha-Krishna's lila the main subject.
- Painters: Nanakram, Sitaram, Surdhwaj, Mulraj, Mordhwaj Nihalchand, Badan Singh, Ramnath, Sawairam, Laladi Das.
Remember: often mixed up
- Painter and patronNihalchand paints · Savant Singh (Nagaridas) writes poetry and rules.
- ScholarsEric Dickinson and Faiyaz Ali on Kishangarh · Shridhar Andhare on Devgarh.
- GroupKishangarh is counted in the Marwar group of styles.
Test yourself: asked in exams
CET Graduation Level 2022 · Q23
Sridhar Andhare should be given credit for bringing to light the painting style -
- (1)Kishangarh
- (2)Devgarh
- (3)Shahpura
- (4)Uniara
Show answer
✓ (2) Devgarh
See the full paperRAS Prelims 2024 · Q130
Match List – I with List – II regarding famous painting styles and their painters of Rajasthan and select the correct option : List – I — List – II A. Kishangarh — i. Sahibdeen B. Bikaner — ii. Nihalchand C. Mewar — iii. Ali Raza D. Marwar — iv. Shivdas Codes :
- (1)A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii
- (2)A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv
- (3)A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i
- (4)A-ii, B-i, C-iii, D-iv
Show answer
✓ (2) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv
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