Jamini Roy Wiki, Biography, Age, Paintings, Artworks, Life History, Achievements

Jamini Roy was one of the most significant painters of the 20th century in the world of Indian fine arts. He is well known for his portrayal of traditional Indian folk and village art, particularly the one found in Bengal. He was one of the disciples of the renowned painter Abanindranath Tagore, whose artistic originality and contribution to the development of modern art in India remains unquestionable. From Abanindranath Tagore, he learned the nuances of fine arts which he later employed on his canvas. He also developed his own style that was similar to original art found in Kalighat street paintings. All his paintings will be seen in rhythmic outlining, neat pattern, daring simplicity of themes and bright earthy shades. He was not only responsible for making art accessible to all but also for highlighting the true identity of Indian art, free from any westernised concepts and traditions. In 1955, Jamini Roy was honoured with the State award of Padma Bhushan, and at the time, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared him a national artist. Check out below for Jamini Roy Wiki, Biography, Age, Paintings, Artworks, Life History, Achievements, and More.

Jamini Roy Wiki

Jamini Roy Early Life

Jamini Roy was born on 11 April 1887, in an affluent family of zamindars in Beliatore village of the Bankura district, West Bengal. His father Ramataran Roy, resigned from his government services to pursue his interest in art. In 1903, when he was only 16 years old, he moved to Calcutta to enrol himself at the Government College of Art. There, he received education under Abanindranath Tagore, famous for his valuable contribution in the field of modern art. Tagore was the founder and vice principal of the Bengal college and trained Roy as per the prevailing academic tradition. From Tagore, he learned the basic nuances of fine arts and finished his education in 1908. He also received his Diploma in Fine Arts.

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Jamini Roy Career

Roy started his career as a post-impressionist painter, painting landscapes and portraits but wasn’t entirely happy about being a portrait painter who worked for commission. After observing a few paintings from Kalighat temple in Calcutta, Jamini Roy instinctively knew what his preference and interest in art. He knew that the Bengali folk art is the simple way to portray the lives of common people; to make his dazzling art accessible to all and also to bring back the glory of Indian art. Instead of using expensive canvases and oil paints, he started using bold colours that highlighted the theme of the local folk painting. His main aim was to capture the simplicity that included the life of the folk people and bring out the same on a portrait.

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Drawings

From that moment onwards, his paintings started reflecting the Kalighat style of art. By the early 1930s, Jamini Roy became fully conversant with the lines of the Kalighat idiom and produced several numbers of artworks. In 1938, his artworks became the first Indian paintings to be displayed at a British-ruled street in Calcutta. Within two years, his thought process began to bear fruits, when average middle-class Indians bought his works. European community also purchased his paintings because it only reflects the indigenous art of Kalighat painting, along with the terracotta’s of the Bishnupur temple.

Jamini Roy Paintings

In the following years, his works were presented at prestigious shows in places like London and New York City. By now, Jamini Roy had accomplished what he had intended to do when he first switched over from the Western classical style to the folk art of Bengal. At the time, the art was in an expensive mode of expression and his use of inexpensive material, the pattern turned out to be revolutionary in more ways than one. His style not only made art accessible to all but also emphasized on highlighting the true identity of Indian art, free from any westernized concepts and traditions.

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Some of his famous work includes Cats Plus, Cats Sharing a Prawn, Crucifixion with Attendant Angels,  Santal Boy with Drum, Seated Woman in Sari, Queen on Tiger, Ravana, Sita and Jatayu, Krishna and Balarama, Krishna and Radha Dancing, Krishna with Gopis in Boat, Makara, St. Ann and the Blessed Virgin, Warrior King, Vaishnavas, Virgin And Child, and Mother and the child.

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Drawings

Jamini Roy Biography

Jamini Roy Awards and Achievements

• Viceroy Gold Medal – In 1934, he received this prestigious gold medal for one of his paintings at an all India exhibition.
• Padma Bhushan – In the year 1954, The Government of India honored him with India’s third highest civilian award.
• Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi – This the highest honor in fine arts conferred by the Lalit Kala Akademi in the year 1955, India’s National Academy of Art, Government of India.

Jamini Roy Paintings

• In the year 1976, The Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, Government of India declared his work amongst the ‘Nine Masters’ whose work was considered ‘art treasure’.
• On 11 April 2017, Google India dedicated a Google Doodle to celebrate Jamini Roy on what would have been his 130th birthday.

Jamini Roy Personal Life

Roy blessed with four sons and one daughter. He died on 24 April 1972. Jamini Roy spent most of his life in Calcutta and committed all his time to his artwork. He was a simple person and lived a non-materialistic lifestyle. Now, his paintings are showcased in the private and public collections across the globe. The home in which Roy resided till date located in Ballygunge Place, Kolkata and is currently occupied by his childrens, grandchildren and daughters-in-law.

Jamini Roy Wiki

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Jamini Roy Paintings

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Drawings

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Wiki

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Wiki

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Wiki

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Drawings

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Drawings

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Gallery

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Gallery

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Gallery

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Gallery

Jamini Roy Paintings | Jamini Roy Gallery

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