Indian painting has a very long history dating back to pre-historic rock paintings. The earliest significant surviving paintings are the frescoes from the Ajanta Caves from the 5th century BC. Through the medieval period, manuscript painting was practiced but early survivals are rare. Mughal painting represented a fusion of Persian miniature and Indian traditions and spread to princely courts across India in the 17th century. Company paintings were made for British patrons under British rule and introduced Western art schools in the 19th century, leading to modern Indian painting with returning Indian influences. Indian painting provides an aesthetic continuum from ancient times to the present.

1. Indian painting has a very long history, although the seasonally humid Indian climate was difficult for
the long-term preservation of paintings and there are far fewer survivals than of other forms of Indian
art. The earliest Indian paintings were the rock paintings of pre-historic times, the petroglyphs as
found in places like Bhimbetka, some of them from before 5500 BC. India's Buddhist literature is
replete with examples of texts which describe palaces of kings and the aristocratic class embellished
with paintings, but the frescos of the Ajanta Caves are the most significant of the few survivals.
Smaller scale painting in manuscripts was probably also practised in this period, though the earliest
survivals are from the medieval period. Mughal painting represented a fusion of thePersian
miniature with older Indian traditions, and from the 17th century its style was diffused across Indian
princely courts of all religions, each developing a local style. Company paintings were made for British
clients under the British raj, which from the 19th century also introduced art schools along Western
lines, leading to modern Indian painting, which is increasingly returning to its Indian routes.
Indian paintings provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present
day. From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian painting has evolved over the
years to become a fusion of various cultures and traditions.
Contents
• 1 Sadanga of Indian painting
• 2 Genres of Indian painting
• 3 Murals
• 4 Miniature painting
• 4.1 Eastern Indian painting
• 4.2 Western Indian painting
• 4.3 Malwa, Deccan and Jaunpur schools of painting
• 4.4 Mughal painting
• 5 Rajput painting
• 6 Mysore painting
• 7 Tanjore painting
• 8 Madhubani painting
• 9 Pattachitra
• 10 Bengal school
• 11 Modern Indian Painting