gujjar girl bani thani
The works of Umashankar infuse life into a fading art THEY ARE miniature in style but magnificent in appeal. Umashankar's paintings seem to infuse life into a fading art. A revivalist of sorts, the self-taught artist besotted with the `Bani Thani' tale took to the miniature mode of expression. A Gujjar girl with a beautiful voice, Bani stole the heart of the prince of Kishangarh, who defied royal conventions to marry her. Naturally enough women with old world beauty — in traditional outfits and abundant jewellery occupy most of Umashankar's conventional canvases. And so does shringara rasa. Miniature art flourished between the 16th and 18th Century under the patronage of Moghul emperors Akbar, Jehangir and Shahjahan. But with the advent of Aurangzeb's reign, many gave up the art or took refuge in Rajput kingdoms. The k