Resting Lord Krishna | Traditional Colors With 24K Gold | Teakwood Frame

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Adorned with a mind-blowing profusion of ethnic ornaments, Sri Krishna, whose face is as lovely as the full moon sits on an ornate throne in the Maharajalilasana (the posture of royalty). The magic of south Indian traditional jewelry beautifies this Resting Krishna Tanjore painting- peacock crested necklace, Makara (the symbol of royalty and divinity) on the head ornament, and Kada (bracelets) and the red glass beads of Kemp (South Indian jewelry) contrasting with the glistening gold sheathing. Krishna’s positioning, his attire, and how his head tilts to gaze into the eyes of the viewer enrich this Tanjore artwork with a divine animation. The aesthetic value is increased by the flawless facial features, faint black tints on Krishna’s head to highlight his locks, and plump modeling of his limbs that stay true to natural human form. The pink-hued lips of Mana-Mohana (enchanter of the heart) revealed from under his nose ornament break into a pleasing smile, the sweetness of which is enjoyed by the occupants of this Resting Krishna Tanjore painting.

Two female attendants dressed in the traditional South Indian manner flank Krishna, with a parrot and peacock and blobs of Makhan (butter) in their hands, cajoling the king of their hearts and the universe to relish in his favorite meal. Covering them partially is the large silken bolster that supports the resting Krishna, whose floral patterns are evidence of the artistic detailing that went into making this Tanjore art.

Two peacocks, the Hindu symbols for beauty, passion, and royalty are etched on the roof of Krishna’s royal pavilion, and covered in 24-karat gold that gives them a splendid appearance. Glass candle holders with golden handles hang from the walls of the royal palace adding a distinctive splendor to the artwork. Red and blue, traditional colors used in Tanjore paintings’ backgrounds are trusted by the maker of this painting to give a fitting backdrop to the regalia. In the foreground, a row of miniature human and animal figures- a cat, a woman (probably Maa Yashoda from her assertive motherly stance), two cows and a calf (another symbol for maternal affection), four infants playing with each other, three male figures conversating, a Tulsi plant, and a deer, recreating the scenes and ambiance from Krishna’s childhood which is the ceaseless source of devotional pleasure for his devotees. 

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.