Stylistic Trends in Later Bundelkhand Painting

Book Details

• Author: Konrad Seitz

• Publisher: Niyogi Books

• Language: English

• Edition: First Edition

• ISBN: 9788119626717

• Pages: 246

• Cover: Hardcover

• Format: Picture Book

• Release Date: 15-12-2024

About The Book

Orchha, Datia, Panna: Miniatures from the Royal Courts of Bundelkhand - Volume 3 is the final volume in the series that takes readers on a visual and historical journey through the fascinating evolution of Bundelkhand painting. This lavishly illustrated book covers the third, fourth, and fifth periods of Bundelkhand painting, spanning the years 1635 through 1840, providing a thorough analysis of the shifting styles and cultural influences that shaped this art form.

The book begins with the Mughalizing painting styles that emerged in Datia after the fall of Orchha in 1635, marking Datia’s rise as an independent principality and an important cultural hub. It then explores the flourishing of Bundelkhand painting after 1675, when Raja Chhatrasal established Panna as the capital of his Bundela kingdom. Although Bundelkhand painting ceased after the raja’s death in 1731, it experienced a resurgence during the British era in the nineteenth century—though the style of this later period diverged significantly from earlier traditions, incorporating elements of the prevailing Mughal-Rajput style.

Featuring more than ninety paintings, many of which are published for the first time, Volume 3 offers a rich and insightful look into the evolution of Bundelkhand’s miniature paintings. The author, Konrad Seitz, provides a detailed analysis of these artworks, highlighting the unique stylistic changes and cultural influences that shaped them.

About the Author:
Dr. Konrad Seitz (1933-2023), a diplomat, historian, and art collector, spent many years in India where he served as the German ambassador from 1987 to 1990. Along with his wife Eva Seitz, he was one of the world’s foremost private collectors of Indian miniature paintings. Their remarkable collection, shared generously with art lovers globally through exhibitions and donations to museums, has enriched the world’s understanding and appreciation of Indian painting.