Thanjavur or Tanjore paintings though usually linked with splendid gold-wreathed religious imagery, have a rich heritage of paintings of secular subjects, where the royal patrons of Tanjore artists appear in a grand setting, which exalts their might and royalty in the best possible idiom.
This five feet tall Thanjavur painting, adorned with 24-karat gold and vibrant traditional colors presents the procession of a Raja or king and oozes splendor in its ambiance. Mounted on his processional elephant, surrounded by his subjects, the Raja is the central subject of this painting, which is an ode to the days when Thanjavur paintings ornamented the walls of royal palaces.
The background for the hubbub of this royal procession is the imposing architecture of the Rajamahal or the royal palace, whose marble pillars, arches, golden domes, and Jharokha-style windows serve as a visual extension of the king’s abundance. Outlined by the golden frames of these windows, young women and men gaze at the luxuriant regalia of the procession passing the streets of the royal town.
Taking the centre stage, the king is placed atop a heavily adorned elephant, an animal that symbolizes valor, regalia, and wisdom- qualities associated with a monarch. Dressed in the manner of Maratha Nayakas and highlighted by a deep red backdrop, the figure of the king stands out.
The crowd on the ground is a heterogeneous group of people- warriors, commanders, commoners, men, and women, all delineated with a discernible individualism. It creates an environment of celebration and devotion with the collective body language of the members.
The sheer detail on this Tanjore painting lends it a glorious appeal, transporting us to the lanes of the royal city, and making us one of the onlookers of this majestic procession. Such is the fantastic charm of Thanjavur art.
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