Mewar Miniature – A legacy of Traditional Art oblivion in Udaipur
The family of Bhagwati Lal Sharma descended from Pali district and is from Palecha Gotra. Bhagwati Lal Sharma is the second son of Narottam Narayan Sharma. He has two brothers and two sisters. He got married to Durgawati in 1964. Having been trained from his father, Narottam Narayan, one of the most prolific artist of all times, Bhagwati Lal Sharma had a lot of inclination towards experimenting while maintaining the beauty of traditions. Over the past 50 years he has been experimenting with pigments and natural colours and is known to be the best living miniature artist in Mewar miniature style
Dec 2, 2016, 12:57 IST
Bhagwati Lal Sharma ( born 20th March 1941) is an Indian artist from Nathdwara. His father, Narottam Narayan Sharma was a famous miniature artist of his time. Narottam Narayan Sharma was a student of Ghasi Ram Hardev Sharma. Narottam Narayan was also an early influence on B. G. Sharma (also from Nathdwara), who later broke away to evolve his own style.
The family of Bhagwati Lal Sharma descended from Pali district and is from Palecha Gotra. Bhagwati Lal Sharma is the second son of Narottam Narayan Sharma. He has two brothers and two sisters. He got married to Durgawati in 1964. Having been trained from his father, Narottam Narayan, one of the most prolific artist of all times, Bhagwati Lal Sharma had a lot of inclination towards experimenting while maintaining the beauty of traditions. Over the past 50 years he has been experimenting with pigments and natural colours and is known to be the best living miniature artist in Mewar miniature style.
Late Shri Narottam Narayan – a potrait drawn by Bhagwati Lal Sharma
He also spent a few years with his uncle Damodar Sharma, who also was an exemplary artist at Dakorji in Guajrat and worked in a temple of Ranchodji. The training under these two legends helped him develop his own unique style and also a deep insight of Nathdwara Painting style. He however left his father’s house because of a feud in 1967 and started working in Udaipur. The period was a golden period for his carrier and he always had patrons pursuing him for work. He, however, always maintained a simple lifestyle and would never carry his father’s big name as a privilege. He found and made his own path.
He got seriously ill and went into depression for a period of 20 years from 1992 to 2012. He did not work much during that period and his wife faced the struggle and managed the household by stitching clothes.
Bhagwati Lal Sharma with his wife Durgawati
Even under such serious stress Bhagwati Lal Sharma never stopped his experimentation on natural colors. He has the best known collection of natural colors. His research on natural colors is unparalleled. It is for this reason he has been a sought for artist for repair of antique painting which also have natural colors.
A few of his works for our readers to see…and appreciate…
Collection Images contributed by Rishabh Verdia
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