Maratha Paintings  

 Discribtion Maratha Paintings Maratha paintings are seen in four places in the Tanjavur temple complex: Amman shrine, Enclosure walls, Nandi Mandapa and Subrahmanya shrine. Many of these paintings were commissioned by Serfoji-II when he carried out a great Kumbhabhisekam in 1802-03.

Paintings on the ceiling of the mandapa in front of the Amman shrine illustrate stories connected with the exploits of the Goddess. The paintings in the central bay of the ceiling are in a series of rectangular panels illustrating the story of the Goddess in a fight with demons Mahisasura, Sumbha and Nisumha. Most panels are provided with a label in Tamil, above the figure. On either side of the central bay are painted, a series of divine marriages. The panels so depicted are Ganesa-kalyanam, marriage of Subrahmanya, Laksmi-kalyanam, Gauri-kalyanam, Saraswati-kalyanam Surya's marriage with usa, Candra’s marriage with Rohini, and others. In addition we find stucco figures painted with scenes from the Siva purana. Some of the panels depicted are done with consummate skill and seem to ... More

   Maratha Paintings  

 Discribtion Maratha Paintings Maratha paintings are seen in four places in the Tanjavur temple complex: Amman shrine, Enclosure walls, Nandi Mandapa and Subrahmanya shrine. Many of these paintings were commissioned by Serfoji-II when he carried out a great Kumbhabhisekam in 1802-03.

Paintings on the ceiling of the mandapa in front of the Amman shrine illustrate stories connected with the exploits of the Goddess. The paintings in the central bay of the ceiling are in a series of rectangular panels illustrating the story of the Goddess in a fight with demons Mahisasura, Sumbha and Nisumha. Most panels are provided with a label in Tamil, above the figure. On either side of the central bay are painted, a series of divine marriages. The panels so depicted are Ganesa-kalyanam, marriage of Subrahmanya, Laksmi-kalyanam, Gauri-kalyanam, Saraswati-kalyanam Surya's marriage with usa, Candra’s marriage with Rohini, and others. In addition we find stucco figures painted with scenes from the Siva purana. Some of the panels depicted are done with consummate skill and seem to be painted by local artists who were familiar with the stories.

The second series are found on the walls of the western and northern enclosure. These depict various scenes from a popular work called Tiruvilayadal, by the famous author Paramjoti munivar. Tiruvilayadal is on the 64 divine sports of Siva. These paintings seem to be by an accomplished artist who shows maturity of artistic skill.

On the ceiling of the Nandi Mandapa are painted, decorative carpets like designs. These are paintings of exceptional quality. In the Subrahmanya shrine are painted, mainly large portraits of the Maratha rulers, their queens, court dancers etc.