Page 161 - Eye of the beholder

aTyPical kiShanGarh PainTinGS
The aquiline nose, sinuous figures and stylized elongated eyes that have come to so universally characterize Kishangarh miniature paintings were the pinnacle of an evolutionary process that spanned about 150 to 200 years.
The earliest Kishangarh paintings date from the 18th century, though the kingdom itself was founded in 1609 by Kishan Singh - the eighth son of Udai Singh of Jaipur. In this painting, though the subject matter is unorthodox, the telltale traits of Kishangarh style are evident : the stylized eyes, the elongated nose, and the rather unnatural gait. Additionally, the use of the crimson orange, and the rather elevated skyline are also features that bolster the attribution to the Kishangarh school. The painting is an important example of a prominent style with limited output, and is more more important academically than aesthetically.
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