This Tanjore style artwork is matchless because of its unique illustration with vivid colors and 24 Karat gold coating embellishment. Here, all of them are seated on a big throne with a Kirtimukha prabhavali (a surrounding arch) behind which, the snowy peaks of the Mount Kailash (the abode of Lord Shiva) can be seen. Lord Shiva is unprecedently clad in a yellow dhoti, adorned with a flower garland which is unusual. A serpent is wrapped around his neck and he holds a Dumaroo and a Trident in his upper hands. The merciful and empathetic Devi Parvati is seated next to the Lord, attired in a bright red saree and adorned with a huge crown on her head. The noble Lord Kartikeya is seated on her lap. He holds a weapon known as Vel (spear) in his left hand, while the right is in Abhaya Mudra. On the other side of Lord Shiva, the chief of Ganas, Ganesha, is seated with an elephant head and human body, he looks at his elder brother with love. He holds an axe, a noose, a lotus and a modak in his four hands. Note that there are also present the sacred mounts of Lord Shiva (Nandi the Bull), Lord Kartikeya (Peacock) and Lord Ganesha (Mooshak) near their masters, ready to serve them. 

Gilded Elegance: Unraveling the Artistry of Tanjore Paintings

Tanjore painting is a traditional form of art in the South Indian style and was started by the inhabitants of a small town known as Thanjavur of Tamil Nadu. This gives it another name called “Thanjavur painting”. This painting draws its figures, designs, and inspiration from the time when Vedic culture was prevalent in India. Certain remarkable features of a Tanjore painting distinguish it from other paintings. Some of these are pure gold or gold foil coating on gesso work, the use of rich and vivid colors, and the inlay of cut-glass or semi-precious and precious stones. The subjects of most of the Tanjore paintings are Hindu Gods, Goddesses, and saints. The main devotional figure is portrayed in the central portion of the painting and is usually surrounded by various secondary figures.

The process of making a Tanjore painting

The classic Tanjore paintings are done on wooden planks and hence are also referred to as Palagai Padam in South India (Palagai = Wooden plank, Padam = Picture). Creating a masterpiece is never an easy task but the skilled artists of Thanjavur have been following the tradition of making timeless Tanjore paintings for decades.

The making process begins with preparing the wooden board or canvas. The size of the board depends upon the choice of the patron. The next step is to paste cardboard over the wooden board and then a cotton fabric is stretched and pasted upon it using Arabic gum.

Now that the cloth is attached to the wooden panel, a rough sketch of the motifs and figure is drawn onto the fabric. After this, a paste of chalk powder and water-soluble adhesive is evenly applied over the base and smoothed.

Thereafter, the outlines which were made or traced using a stencil are now ready to be beautified and decked with various add-ons. The usual materials for decoration are cut-glass, pearls, semi-precious and precious gems, gold leaf, and laces. 22 or 18 Karat Gold leaves and gems of varied hues are especially inlaid in areas like pillars, arches, walls, thrones, and dresses. In the final step, the rest of the painting is filled with rich and striking colors such as shades of red, blue, and green. Formerly, the artists used natural colors like vegetable and mineral dyes instead of chemical paints. The entire painting is then cleaned and refined to give a flawless finished look.

Since the making of a single piece of Tanjore painting requires a complex and elaborate process, the artists usually take at least one or two months to complete it. The use of pure gold foil and gems for beautification is a characteristic of an authentic Tanjore painting. Due to this, Tanjore paintings last for generations without getting tarnished and are much more expensive than general paintings. Though the art form has undergone various changes and technique modifications over the years, it continues to attract the hearts of art lovers.