Previous generations of the artists evolved special methods of producing materials for their art works meant to last for centuries. Their success can be appreciated by the existence to day of centuries old paintings in private collections hanging in different museums of the world, whose papers are intact and colours are as fresh as new. Unfortunately not much has ever been documented because this was the kind of knowledge that traveled orally from generation to generation. Some meager documents that are available, does give the basic idea but much of that documentation need further research and verification because many of the materials and methods explained are not very authentic. The paper is an effort to investigate and research some materials used by the past artists on scientific basis.

(1)  Annemarie Schimmel, Stuart Cary Welch, Anvari’s Divan: A Pocket Book for Akbar (New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1983),  37.

(2)  Ibid., 37.

(3)  Ibid., 46.

(4)  B. H. Baden Powell,Hand-Book of the Manufacturers and Arts of the Punjab, Vol. II (Lahore: Punjab Printing Company, 1872), 341.

(5)  Ibid., 344.

(6)  To get the information about the materials and techniques used by the artists, I had to rely upon the interviews of the old painters and art historians who are involved in this art form for many years. One of the interviewees was Mr. Salah ul Din who is a senior miniature painter of Lahore. He was also employed by Lahore Museum where he worked on the damaged paintings of the museum. He is very familiar with the material used for paintings.

      The other person who was of tremendous help is Faqir Saif ul Din, the curator/director of Faqir Khana Museum Lahore. He was a resource to show the papers and materials used in books and paintingsthat belonged to this area.

      Khalid Saeed Butt was also of immense help. He is a professor of miniature painting at College of Art & Design, Punjab University Lahore. He is also an accomplished painter and has been painting miniatures for the last thirty-five years. He still makes his own paper (Wasli) for miniature painting. He told me in detail about the pigments and their reaction on paper because he had first hand experience in this regard.

      For technical expertise Prof. Dr. Abdul Qayyum Mirza was consulted. He is a PhD in chemistry and confirmed the chemical reactions of the materials used by the artists.

      All these persons are experts in their field and have the first hand knowledge about the materials used to make new paints. As Mr. Salah ul Din and Khalid Saeed Butt said that even today they prepare their own papers and painting material. I am really thankful for their help and guidance.

(7)  R.P. Srivastava, Punjab Painting (New Delhi: Hans Raj Gupta & Sons 1983),72.

(8)  Urdu to English Dictionary (Lahore: Ferozsons Pvt. Limited 1952), 438.

(9) Interview Faqir Saif ul Din.

(10) Interview Faqir Saif ul Din.

(11) Interview Mr. Salah ul Din.

(12) Srivastava, Punjab Painting, 77.

(13) Interview Faqir Saif ul Din.

(14) Srivastava, Punjab Painting, 77.

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