Tamil Nadu is known for its traditional
ornate paintings, known as Tanjore paintings.
This art originated in the 16th century,
under royal patronage. These paintings are
created after a meticulous and long drawn
process, which involves many stages. Layers
of cloth are pasted over wood, to create
the base for painting. This is treated with
lime paste, to make the surface smooth for
painting.
The next step involves, drawing
outlines of the figures. Later pearls, semi-precious
stones, beaten gold leaf and gilt metal
are stuck on the image with a mixture of
sawdust and glue.
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