Painting of Rajasthan — REET Notes (Social Studies)
The painting of Rajasthan is as varied as its many princely states — each had its own school of painting, its own colour palette and its own favoured subjects. REET tests this topic with fine-grained questions on identifying a school by its well-known painter, text or specific subject matter.
- 2 questions in REET 2024
- Class 8 level (Rajasthan Studies)
- 12 min read
How REET asks this topic
Both REET 2024 questions asked you to match a specific painter/text to its correct sub-school — one asked you to link the women painters 'Kamla and Ilaichi' to the Nathdwara style (a sub-style of Mewar), the other asked you to link the oldest illustrated text, the 'Shravak Pratikraman Sutra Churni' (1260 CE), to the Mewar style. In other words, knowing just the names of the styles isn't enough here — you also need to know the specific painters, texts and events tied to each style precisely.
Major painting schools of Rajasthan
| School | Centre | Feature / famous painter |
|---|---|---|
| Mewar School | Udaipur, Chavand, Ahar | The oldest school; bright red and yellow colours; painters Nisardin (Ragamala, 1605, Chavand) and Sahibdin are prominent |
| Nathdwara sub-school | Nathdwara (a branch of Mewar) | Famous for the Pichwai paintings of Shrinathji; women painters Kamla and Ilaichi (daughters of Damodardas) are prominent |
| Bundi School | Bundi (Hadoti) | Liberal use of green and blue; dense trees, animals and birds depicted; Ragamala and Barahmasa themes; flourished under Rao Chhatrasal and Rao Bhavsingh |
| Kota School | Kota (developed separately from Bundi) | Skilled at depicting hunting scenes (especially tiger hunts) and animals in motion |
| Kishangarh School | Kishangarh (Marwar region) | World-famous for 'Bani-Thani', painted by Nihal Chand — long eyes, sharp nose and chin; the Radha-Krishna romance is the chief subject |
| Marwar (Jodhpur) School | Jodhpur | Legends of the warrior Durgadas Rathore, Dhola-Maru, and themes linked to the Nath sect are prominent |
| Bikaner School | Bikaner | Strong Mughal influence; 'Usta' craftsmen painted in the 'Mandi' (studio) |
| Dhundhar (Jaipur) School | Amber, Jaipur | Painter Sahibram prominent; wall paintings based on Radha-Krishna, Rasikapriya and Geet Govind |
Because of its distinctive style, Bani-Thani is also called 'the Mona Lisa of India'.
Special facts worth remembering
- Oldest illustrated text
- The 'Shravak Pratikraman Sutra Churni' (1260 CE), illustrated at Ahar (Aghatpur) during the reign of Guhila ruler Tejsingh — linked to the Mewar school.
- Bani-Thani
- The beloved and singer of Sawant Singh, king of Kishangarh (pen name 'Nagaridas'); painter Nihal Chand depicted her in the form of Radha.
- The woman painters of Nathdwara
- Kamla and Ilaichi — daughters of the painter Damodardas, considered leading women painters of the Nathdwara school (a sub-style of Mewar).
- The 'Usta' artists of Bikaner
- Craftsmen originally of Muslim tradition, skilled not only in painting but also in enamel work and gold engraving.
General features of the painting tradition
Most of Rajasthan's painting schools belong to the miniature painting tradition, where fine brushwork filled in colour on paper or cloth, using natural colours prepared by the painters themselves (from minerals, plants and precious stones). Krishna-lila, Ragamala (visual depictions of musical ragas), Barahmasa (depictions of the twelve months) and courtly hunting scenes were the dominant themes across most schools.
The personal interest and patronage of each state's rulers gave that region's painting school its own distinct identity — for instance, the 'Bani-Thani' style developed in Kishangarh out of King Sawant Singh's devotional feeling, while Bikaner's and Amber's styles show clear Mughal influence because of their rulers' close ties with the Mughal court.
Classifying the schools: four broad groups
For ease of study, Rajasthan's painting schools are generally divided into four broad groups — the Mewar group (Udaipur, Nathdwara, Devgarh), the Marwar group (Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kishangarh, Nagaur), the Dhundhar group (Amber-Jaipur) and the Hadoti group (Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar). Within each group, the sub-schools share features with their main centre while still keeping their own separate identity — for example, Kishangarh, though part of the Marwar group, is recognised separately for its distinctive 'Bani-Thani style'.
This classification is very useful for exams like REET, because questions often check which broader group a sub-school (such as Nathdwara or Kota) branches from — so it's best to remember each sub-school linked to its parent group, rather than as an isolated name.
How to teach this to children
Classroom activity (Class 8)
Show children a famous image from each painting school (such as Bani-Thani) and ask them to identify its features themselves (the shape of the eyes, the colour combination).
Teaching aids
Get a chart made marking each painting school's centre (Udaipur, Bundi, Kishangarh, Bikaner, Jaipur) on a map of Rajasthan.
Common misconception
Children often think of the Bundi and Kota schools as the same — clarify that the Kota school developed separately from Bundi and is considered particularly skilled in hunting scenes.
Assessment idea
Run a matching quiz pairing a painting school with its feature (such as 'long eyes' → Kishangarh, 'tiger hunt' → Kota).
Memory trick / exam tip
Remember each school by one distinctive 'identity word' — 'Mewar = the oldest', 'Bundi = green-blue colours', 'Kishangarh = Bani-Thani's eyes', 'Bikaner = Usta-Mandi', 'Nathdwara = Pichwai'. In REET, whenever an unfamiliar painter or text comes up, decide your answer by linking it to its subject matter and school's 'identity word'.
REET 2024 questions asked (with solutions)
Question 115
Women painters named Kamala and Elaichi are associated to which painting style of Rajasthan ?
- Aजोधपुर शैली
- Bकिशनगढ़ शैली
- Cनाथद्वारा शैली
- Dबून्दी शैली
Explanation
कमला और इलायची नाथद्वारा के चित्रकार दामोदर दास की पुत्रियाँ थीं और नाथद्वारा की प्रमुख महिला चित्रकारों में गिनी जाती हैं। नाथद्वारा शैली मेवाड़ स्कूल की उपशैली है, जिसमें श्रीनाथजी की पिछवाइयाँ प्रसिद्ध हैं। अतः सही उत्तर (C) नाथद्वारा शैली है।
Question 122
The illustrated text ‘Shravakpratikramansutrachoorni’ is related to which school of painting ?
- Aमारवाड़ शैली
- Bहाड़ौती शैली
- Cमेवाड़ शैली
- Dढूंढाड़ शैली
Explanation
‘श्रावक प्रतिक्रमण सूत्र चूर्णि’ (1260 ई.) मेवाड़ शैली का सबसे प्राचीन उपलब्ध चित्रित ग्रंथ माना जाता है। यह गुहिल शासक तेजसिंह के काल में आघाटपुर (आहड़) में चित्रित किया गया था। इसलिए इसका संबंध मेवाड़ चित्रकला शैली से है।
Practice questions
Question 1
Who was the painter of the 'Bani-Thani' painting?
- Aसाहबदीन
- Bनिसारदीन
- Cनिहालचंद
- Dसाहिबराम
Explanation
Nihal Chand, a painter of the Kishangarh school, created the famous portrait of 'Bani-Thani', beloved of King Sawant Singh, which is also called 'the Mona Lisa of India' because of her long eyes and sharp nose.
Question 2
Which painting style is famous for the 'Pichhwai' paintings of Shrinathji?
- Aबूँदी शैली
- Bनाथद्वारा शैली
- Cकिशनगढ़ शैली
- Dढूँढाड़ शैली
Explanation
The Nathdwara school, a sub-style of the Mewar school, is famous for the 'Pichwai' paintings of Shrinathji (large painted cloths hung behind the deity's image in the temple).
Question 3
The golden age of the Bundi painting style is considered to be under the rule of which rulers?
- Aराव छत्रसाल व राव भावसिंह
- Bसवाई जयसिंह व सवाई मानसिंह
- Cराव मालदेव व महाराजा मानसिंह
- Dराजा सावंतसिंह व राजा राजसिंह
Explanation
The golden age of the Bundi painting school is considered to be the reigns of Rao Chhatrasal and Rao Bhavsingh (mid-to-late 17th century), when this style reached its peak in green-blue colours and depictions of nature.
Question 4
What were the 'Usta' craftsmen of the Bikaner painting style famous for?
- Aकेवल मंदिर-निर्माण
- Bचित्रकारी के साथ मीनाकारी व सोने की नक्काशी
- Cकेवल मूर्तिकला
- Dकेवल वस्त्र-बुनाई
Explanation
The 'Usta' craftsmen of Bikaner were famous for painting as well as enamel work and gold engraving (gold leaf work), and they worked together in a studio called the 'Mandi'.
Question 5
In which subject is the Kota painting style considered especially skilled?
- Aधार्मिक ग्रंथों का चित्रण
- Bशिकार (विशेषकर बाघ-शिकार) दृश्य
- Cकेवल रागमाला चित्रण
- Dकेवल भित्ति-चित्र
Explanation
The Kota school, which developed separately from the Bundi school, is especially skilled at depicting hunting scenes (particularly tiger hunts) and animals in motion.
Question 6
Who was the leading court painter of the Dhundhar (Jaipur) painting style?
- Aनिहालचंद
- Bसाहबदीन
- Cसाहिबराम
- Dनिसारदीन
Explanation
Sahibram was the leading court painter of the Dhundhar (Jaipur) school during the reign of Sawai Jai Singh II, who created paintings on themes such as Radha-Krishna and Rasikapriya.
Question 7
Which valiant warrior's exploits were prominently depicted in the Jodhpur (Marwar) painting style?
- Aमहाराणा प्रताप
- Bवीर दुर्गादास राठौड़
- Cराव जोधा
- Dपृथ्वीराज चौहान
Explanation
The Jodhpur (Marwar) painting school prominently depicted the legends of the brave warrior Durgadas Rathore, the Dhola-Maru love story, and themes linked to the Nath sect.
Question 8
What sources were mainly used to make colours in the miniature paintings of Rajasthan?
- Aकेवल आयातित सिंथेटिक रंग
- Bखनिज, वनस्पति व कीमती पत्थरों से बने प्राकृतिक रंग
- Cकेवल काली स्याही
- Dकेवल सफेद चूने का रंग
Explanation
In Rajasthan's miniature painting, painters prepared their own natural colours from minerals, plants and precious/semi-precious stones, which retain their brightness even after centuries.
Question 9
What is the most effective way to teach the painting styles of Rajasthan in class?
- Aकेवल शैलियों के नाम रटवाना
- Bप्रसिद्ध चित्रों की छवियाँ दिखाकर उनकी विशेषताएँ स्वयं पहचानने को कहना
- Cविषय को केवल परीक्षा तक सीमित रखना
- Dबिना उदाहरण के परिभाषा पढ़वाना
Explanation
Showing images of famous paintings (such as Bani-Thani) and asking children to identify their features (colour, shape of the eyes) themselves strengthens visual memory, something rote-learning names alone cannot achieve.
Question 10
At which place was the oldest illustrated text, the 'Shravak Pratikraman Sutra Churni', painted?
- Aचावंड
- Bआहड़ (आघाटपुर)
- Cनाथद्वारा
- Dकिशनगढ़
Explanation
The 'Shravak Pratikraman Sutra Churni' (1260 CE), regarded as the oldest surviving illustrated text of the Mewar school, was illustrated at Ahar (Aghatpur) during the reign of Guhila ruler Tejsingh.
Frequently asked questions
How many REET questions come from the Painting of Rajasthan?+
REET 2024 carried 2 questions from this topic, both based on matching a painter/text to its correct sub-school. It's a topic that appears regularly in the Art and Culture of Rajasthan section.
Which painting school is Bani-Thani associated with?+
Bani-Thani is the most famous work of the Kishangarh painting school, created by the painter Nihal Chand. Because of its distinctive style (long eyes, sharp nose), it is also called 'the Mona Lisa of India'.
Which is considered the oldest painting school of Rajasthan?+
The Mewar school is considered Rajasthan's oldest painting school, and its oldest surviving illustrated text is the 'Shravak Pratikraman Sutra Churni' (1260 CE).
What subject is the Nathdwara school known for?+
The Nathdwara school (a sub-style of Mewar) is famous for the 'Pichwai' paintings of Shrinathji — large painted cloths hung behind the deity's image in the temple.
What is the biggest feature of the Bikaner school?+
The Bikaner school shows a deep Mughal influence, since its rulers had close ties with the Mughal court; there, the 'Usta' craftsmen painted in a studio called the 'Mandi'.
How many broad groups are Rajasthan's painting schools divided into?+
For ease of study they are generally divided into four broad groups — the Mewar group (Udaipur, Nathdwara), the Marwar group (Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kishangarh), the Dhundhar group (Amber-Jaipur) and the Hadoti group (Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar).
Why is the Radha-Krishna romance such a prominent theme in the Kishangarh school?+
Sawant Singh, king of Kishangarh, was himself a Krishna-devotee poet (pen name 'Nagaridas'), and his beloved Bani-Thani was seen as Radha. It was this devotional feeling and personal inspiration that led the painter Nihal Chand to make the Radha-Krishna romance the central theme of the Kishangarh style.
What broader art tradition is Rajasthani miniature painting considered part of?+
Rajasthani painting is part of India's broader 'Rajput Painting' tradition, which also includes the painting schools of the hill region (Himachal-Jammu) besides Rajasthan. Both traditions share a similarity in depicting devotional feeling and courtly life, though there are clear differences in colour combination and style.
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- 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked