Though extremely popular in South India, the
Tanjore and Mysore traditions of painting have
not received the scholarly attention that other
popular traditions have enjoyed. Art historian
Barbara Rossi places them midway between
classical and popular traditions.
Mysore paintings are more subtle and done on
paper, while the Tanjore works on cloth
stretched over wood. Both styles are opulent in
articulation and deal mostly with sacred icons
painted for devotional purposes. The painted
surfaces, raised in relief, are built up using
lime stone paste and embellished with gold leaf,
highlighted with coloured glass or jewels
embedded in the gold leaf. The theatrical
framing of the iconic paintings should be
particularly noted.
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