KISHANGARH PAINTING

18th-century school of the Rajasthani style of Indian painting that arose in the princely state of Kishangarh (central Rajasthan state). The school is clearly distinguished by its individualistic facial type and its religious intensity. The sensitive, refined features of the men and women are drawn with pointed noses and chins, deeply curved eyes, and serpentine locks of hair. Their action is frequently shown to occur in large panoramic landscapes. Though competent paintings similar in style to late Mughal art were perhaps being done in Kishangarh at the end of the 17th century, the brilliant series of paintings on the RadhaKrishna theme were due largely to the inspiration of Raja Savant Singh (reigned 174857). He was a poet, also, who wrote under the name of Nagari Das, as well as a devout member of the Vallabhacarya sect, which worships the lord in his appearance on Earth as Krishna, the divine lover. Savant Singh fell in love with a singer in the employ of his stepmother called Bani Thani (Lady of Fashion), and it is speculated that her features may have been the model for the Kishangarh facial type. The master artist largely responsible for transmitting the romantic and religious passions of his patron into new and fresh visual images was Nihal Chand.