Discuss the evolution, key features and notable contribution of the Deccani School of paintings.

The turbulent medieval times saw an exodus of artists to the South who were patronized by the regal houses over there and gradually, three distinct schools of art developed viz. Deccani, Mysore and Tanjore. The miniature painting style, which flourished initially in the Bahmani court and later in the courts of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Golkonda, is popularly known as the Deccan school of Painting.
The Deccani painting initially absorbed influences of the northern tradition of the pre-Mughal painting of Malwa and of the southern tradition of the Vijayanagar School of painting.
This school was rather known for Murals and Frescoes and not the miniatures and it also influenced the Mysore and Tanjore Schools of paintings. These influences are evident in the treatment of female types and costumes in the earliest deccani paintings.
The colors of the Deccani schools paintings are rich and brilliant and are different from those of the northern painting.
Distinctive features include treatment of the ethnic types, costumes, jewellery, flora, fauna, landscape and colours.
Some of the important contributions include:

• “Tarif-i-Hussain Shahi”- From Ahmednagar Painting
• “Najum-al-ulum” (Starsof Sciences)- From Bijapur Painting
• Lady with the Mynabird” and the “Lady smoking Hooka”- From Golconda Painting

Topics: GS-I: Indian Art Forms