Show on Indian miniatures on display at Gallery G

Court To Collector: A Miniature Legacy is an exhibition of Indian miniature paintings that will pique the interest of serious collectors, academics and budding art lovers. On display are folios and paintings that encompass themes depicting the splendours of royal life, incidents narrated in the epics and mythology, and daily, workday scenes.

For the uninitiated, folios are limited edition prints created with permission. “Since only the best pieces in a collection are chosen for folios, these pieces too, become collector’s items. In a few instances, where there is no longer permission to print, the copies in existence are even more valued,“ says Gitanjali Maini, founder of Gallery G.

Gitanjali says the purpose of this show is to educate people on this art form which is generally categorised as Indian or Mughal miniatures. Court to Collector brings out every style in this genre such as the Bhagavata paintings from Mankot and the Ragamala paintings of Basohli, as well as ones from the Kishangarh and Deogarh schools.

“Each of these folios is attributed to an original collection present in a museum in India or overseas. We received permission from the museum and collectors to have them printed. These are limited edition copies that can be viewed and are also available for purchase,” says Gitanjali.

Exhibits from Court to Collector at Gallery G
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“The idea behind the show is to help more people understand and appreciate the details present in miniatures as well as the distinct styles characteristic of each school of art,” she says, adding that the accompanying notes were written by academicians of great calibre such as Karl Khandavala, BN Goswamy and others.

At Court to Collector, the evidence of this meticulousness is on display all around. From bells on an anklet and strings on a sitar, to the carvings on pillars and motifs on clothing, the precision in depiction is astounding given the scale.

While it may seem the world of miniatures is quite niche, its beauty can captivate on various levels. Gitanjali shares that a young data analyst has visited the exhibition multiple times because he feels his fascination with the intricate detailing has made him sharper at the workplace.

“Though the vision behind the creation of this show is to teach people more about miniatures, which are rarely spoken about, it is also for anyone who appreciates beauty and fine details,” she says.

Court To Collector: A Miniature Legacy is on display at Gallery G till November 30, 2025. Entry free, Mondays closed.