Mor Priya

Mola Ram was an Indian painter who is popularly credited with the development of the Garhwal School of Miniature Painting. He also worked as poet, diplomat and historian at the time. He continued his works under the patronage of Garhwal kings and Gorkha patrons. The above painting entitled ‘Mor Priya’ is one of his prominent paintings. At the heart of the composition is the nayika (heroine or idealized woman) standing gracefully on a white marble terrace. She is looking downwards towards a peacock. The peacock with iridescent blue neck and meticulously detailed green plumage, turns its head upward to gaze back at her. If we relate it from contemporary literary point of view, then it will become evident that a lady with natural elements like peacock was considered as heavily loaded romantic symbolism. Nayika’s downward and calm eyes and her gentle posture can be related with a state of viraha (love in separation), where the bird serves as a silent confidant to her inner emotional world.She wears a transparent veil over a light yellow dress, showing the artist's skill in depicting sheer fabric. Artist consciously avoids portraying realistic anatomical features. Instead the essence and emotions become the main subject of this painting. The flat background, soft colours are intentionally used to focus mainly on the Nayika theme.