Indian Silk Painting Art

Silk Paintings are beautiful mediums of art. Since the late middle ages, silk have been used as a canvas for portraits and paintings. As you might have guessed, under normal circumstances the paint used would "run" through the material. A special process known to specialized craftsmen and women in India, allows the silk canvas to "hold" the paint in vibrant detail. This process often makes the silk have a stiff quality and early appreciators of art thought the paintings were on paper. After closer examination they could actually see the fibers in some of the paintings and realized it was made on a canvas of silk.

Silk Paintings reached their height when India was under Moghul rule during the early 17th-19th century. Moghul kings promoted arts and literature and it is little wonder that many of today's paintings still have a "moghul" style quality to them. The hot spot for these paintings became the desert kingdoms of Rajasthan and the largest concentration of artists for this type of art can still be found there today.

Rich court life and religious themes are often depicted as a characteristic of this art form. Beautiful women are often found in these works of art along with vibrant gemstone coloring. The heavy use of gold leaf appears as another distinguishing characteristic.

Due to the heavy use of gold leaf and the very nature of silk, it is important to take a few precautions. As soon as you receive your painting, be sure to store it in a bag or piece of cloth that will help keep moisture from it. Avoid excessive touching. It is best to get it framed as soon as possible. Do not hang in direct light or in a high moisture area. We hope you enjoy your paintings as much as we enjoyed finding them!