Jali in Mughal Architecture, the Most Delicate Stone Curtains
The jali, or pierced screens, have been extensively employed in Indian construction since time immemorial. They appear in both Hindu and Islamic...
Maya M. Tola 20 August 2020
#India
Shiva Linga Iconography
The Shiva Linga or Shiva Lingam is a highly regarded and widely recognized icon in the Hindu world. This curious phallic structure has been...
Maya M. Tola 12 August 2020
Taj Mahal: India’s Most Famous Monument
Located on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, a little over a 100 miles outside New Delhi, is India’s most famous monument and one...
Maya M. Tola 7 August 2020
The Decline of Mughal Arts under Aurangzeb
Muḥī al-Dīn Muḥammad was the sixth man to ascend to the Mughal throne and the last of the strong Mughal rulers. He was a notable expansionist...
Maya M. Tola 4 June 2020
Nihal Chand and the Kishangarh School
Nihal Chand was an esteemed member of the royal atelier of Kishangarh in the 18th century, under the employ of Crown Prince Sawant Singh. While many...
Maya M. Tola 29 March 2020
Around the World with the National Portrait Gallery – P.6 APAC
The National Portrait Gallery in London is due to close its doors from 29 June 2020. The Inspiring People gallery redevelopment works will take three...
Joanna Kaszubowska 3 March 2020
Six Exquisite Mother-of-Pearl Artifacts from Gujarat
Mother-of-Pearl an iridescent layer carved out of snail shells, usually the Turbo Marmoratus. It is a luminous material that naturally reflects pink...
Maya M. Tola 27 January 2020
In Good Company at Bonhams – An Exhibition of Fine Indian Paintings in London
The global auction house, Bonhams and Arts of Hindostan will be staging a special exhibit of Fine Indian Paintings of the Company School...
Maya M. Tola 10 January 2020
Ardhanarishvara – Androgynous Portrayal of Shiva and Parvati
The composite form of Shiva and his consort, Shakti (another name for Parvati) is known as the Ardhanarishvara or the ‘God who is...
Maya M. Tola 5 December 2019
Miniature Paintings of the Mughal Empire
The Mughals descended from a lineage of formidable conquerors such as Genghis Khan and Amir Timur. They were themselves the most dominant force in...
Maya M. Tola 23 August 2019
Nalini Malani – an Introduction
Nalini Malani (b. 1946) is a brilliant contemporary Indian artist. She is both prolific and internationally acclaimed. Nalini Malani, Listening...
Isla Phillips-Ewen 8 August 2019
