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The Shekhawati frescoes were influenced by Persian, Jaipur and the Mughal Schools
of painting.
A look at the thematic content, from the earliest one painted in 1750 to the later
ones of the British era shows a distinct change in tastes and preference.
The themes predominantly are mythological mingled with illustrations of local legends,
hunting scenes, portraits and depictions of everyday life. The later dated paintings
depict a distinct British influence and the impact of technology: motor cars, airplanes,
ships, telephone, gramophone, trains, balloons, bicycles etc. all painted on the
walls.
"The mood of the Haveli murals is that of brass bands, of festive parades or of
decorously cheerful family weddings and reunions. Much of the appeal is nostalgic,
evocative of almost forgotten celebrations brought to mind by flowers pressed in
old books or by dog-eared faded photographs". (Stuart Cary Welch)
While fresco painting is an ancient art in India, the perfection of the Shekhawati
paintings is remarkable.
In Rajasthan, initially only vegetable pigment were used for colour - like kajal
(lamp black) for black, safeda (lime) for white, neel (indigo) for blue, harabhata
(terra verte) for green, geru (red stone power) for red, hirmich for brown, kesar
(saffron) for orange and pevri (yellow-clay) for yellow ochre-until the last decade
of the 19th century, when chemical pigments came to India.
Synthetic dyes from Germany and England permitted intricate work since they were
meant to be painted on dry plaster and the painter did not have to hurry up with
the painting before the plaster would dry up. These frescoes were painted between
1900 and 1930.
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