Bani Thani in Kishangarh

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Bani Thani style of painting is famous all over the world for its sensuous portraits, soft colors and fascinating landscapes. The typical Kishangarh School of miniature painting developed in the mid eighteenth century.

The typical characteristics of the Kishangarh paintings are the portraits of women. These women are with sharp profiles, long necks and slanting eyes with aquiline noses. The colors used for the paintings are jewel like and green.

The themes for the Kishangarh paintings are of either Radha-Krishna or the hunting and court scenes. The Kishangarh School depicts a beautifully dressed Bani Thani as Radha. These beautiful paintings belong to the rulers of Kishangarh and were first seen by the world during 1940.

Origin of Bani Thani style of painting

Kishangarh School of painting developed in Kishangarh in Rajasthan. Raja Sawant Singh was a great patron of Arts and he was a poet and painter. He wrote poetry under the pseudo name Nagari Das. He loved his mistress Bani Thani very much. She was a poet and singer in his court. She was a quintessential Indian Beauty and inspired the way Radha is depicted in the paintings.

Nihal Chand who was a talented artist in the court of raja Sawant Singh developed the Bani Thani style of painting. He has painted some of the finest paintings of Kishangarh School.

Since the rulers of Jaipur shared a political relation with the Mughals, you can find the influence on the Rajasthani art.

Motifs on Bani Thani style of painting

Kishangarh is picturesquely situated by the lake and the fort and palace of Kishangarh overlook the waters. The painters have depicted this Kishangarh palace, Kishangarh fort, lake, gardens and bridges as a background of their paintings.

The rulers of Kishangarh worshipped Nritya Gopal, Lord Krishna in dancing pose. It may be the reason, why many paintings of this school portray lord Krishna and Radha. Some of the paintings have portrayed the couple in the forest, palace or court.

Radha epitomizes the notion of beauty of Rajasthani women. Great care is taken to show the features of Radha. She is shown to have a high forehead, arched eyebrows, half open lotus eyes pointed chin, aquiline nose, a typical long narrow and curved sensuous lips. The curve of hair around the ear adds to her feminine beauty and innate grace.

Traditionally natural dyes were used for the paintings and the artist himself made the brush. The painting brush was made from the hair from squirrel's tail so that it could be used to paint minute details in the paintings. Some of the exquisite masterpieces are now on view at the national museum, New Delhi. You can see it there or visit Kishangarh to admire the Bani Thani style of paintings.