Mankot

Refers to a regional school of Pahari miniature painting associated with the Ramkot state, the smallest Punjab Hill state. Mughal-inspired portraiture was introduced to Mankot in the mid-17th century under the emperor Shah Jahan and portraiture remained a primary concern of Mankot painters. While earlier paintings are more decorative, the emphasis changed in the early 18th century to focus on the drama of the scene. Some of the distortion of Basohli painting is found in Mankot painting. Painting trends of Nurpur, Jammu and Chamba, particularly in the depiction of faces, were also assimilated by Mankot artists. When Mankot and other principalities lost their independence in the 19th century, painting in Mankot declined.