The art form flourished under the patronage of Maratha Kings. The art could only be fostered by royal patronage as it wasn't just limited to drawing and painting,but also involved the usage of gem stones and gold sheets. These original 24carat gold embellished paintings catered to palaces and temples in South India and decorated the royal homes. They were once part of the wedding gifts of rich so
uth Indians. It is also believed that if a Tanjore painting of infant Krishna is kept in the room, a new born will resemble him. Likewise, a Radha-Krishna painting will help you to have a love laden married life. Each painstakingly done works reflects the dedication and commitment of artists. Usually god and goddesses are the main subjects’ .Avoiding any kind of mixtures, the paintings with primary colours and generally made on cloth pasted on to a wooden plank. A special adhesive (Arabian gum and flour) is used in raised levels for jewels, drapery and architectural elements like pillars and temple pavilions. This is then embedded with semi-precious stones and pearls and covered with 24-carat gold leaf. The cost ranges from Rs. 1000 for miniature paintings to lakhs for gigantic ones, based on the size, embellishments, quality of work, and artistic details.
