HISTORY AND APPRECIATION OF ART FROM 13th CENTURY AD TO 18th CENTURY AD
After the decline of the powerful ruling dynasties in different parts of India, there were hardly any patrons to support a large scale project of art during 12th Century A.D. except few constructions of temples in Rajasthan, Bengal and Orissa. It was mainly restricted to building forts and Maqbaras by the Muslim rulers who did not patronise sculptural art, but this period enriched Indian art with treasure of illustrated manuscripts. The manuscripts of this period belonged to different religious sects like Hindus, Jains and Buddhists . The main centres of these illustrated manuscripts (Punthis) were in Bengal, Gujarat and Bihar. The manuscripts were made in Bengal and Bihar under the patronage of Pala dynasty and it shows a distinct style called “ Pala style ”. On the other hand Jain religious manuscripts were written and illustrated in Gujarat. These “ Punthis ” or manuscripts are done on palm leaf. The scripts are written in beautiful calligraph...