Paintings of India

The following is a collection of various schools of paintings of modern India. It includes prominent schools of paintings in India, including miniature paintings, paintings of some of the most well known painters of India photographed in museums, and from private collections.

For a selection of ancient and medieval paintings of India, please see Paintings of India page in Timeless Theater Archive



After Bath
Painting by M.N.Roy, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad
Salar Jung Museum
Paintings of Freedom Period
Another Martyr
Painting by V.N. O'key, circa 1945

An Apsara in Water
Indian miniature painting
Swimming Celestial
Illustrated Manuscript of Chaurapanchashika
Bilhana and Champavati
Illustrated Manuscript of Chaurapanchashika

Buddha and Mara
Painting by Sarada Ukil, 1940
Good and Evil in Each of Us
Rajasthani Painting
Cold Morning
Rajputs leaving for a hunt in the morning, Rajput miniature painting

Death of a Dreamer
Painting by Ramada Ukil, 1959
Government Museum, Goa
Paintings of India
Tree and Stone Worship
Devotion - Painting by M.V. Seetaramaiah
More well known as a Kannada scholar, M.V. See, was an excellent artist

Elephant Rider and Coterie
Pahari Miniature Painting
Pahari Miniature Painting
Jaina Fine Arts
Example of Jain Fine Art
Detail from a Wall Painting in a Jain Muth, Sravanabelagola.

Flying Apsara Playing Cymbals
Fresco from Cave No. 17, Ajanta
Paintings of Ajanta
Wall Painting of Krishna
Gopika Vastrapaharana (The Stealing of Clothes)
Painting shows Krishna climbing a tree with the clothes of bathing girls

Gossiping Women
Mysore School of Painting
Indian Paintings
Pahari Painting
Grocer and his Family
Pahari school of painting, c. 19th century

Harischandra in Distress
King Harischandra having lost his kingdom and wealth auctions his son. Painting by Rama Varma. Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery Collection, Mysore
Harischandra in Distress
Jain Paintings
Jain Painting from Shravanabelagola
Picrure of a king and his queen

Krishna Leela (Antics of Lord Krishna)
Lord Krishna in bed with Radha, Rajput miniature painting
Rajput Miniature Painting
North Indian Miniature Painting
Krishna-Radha, North Indian Painting

Lady Feeds a Peacock
North Indian Painting
Feeding a Peacock
Ravi Varmas Paintings
Lady in her Vanity
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

Lady with a Child and a Dog
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Genius of Raja Ravi Varma
Indian Landscape Painting
Landscape by Suren De, 1968
From Collection of Government Museum, Goa

Lord Buddha in a Orissan Pata Painting
Pattachitra is a beautiful form of illustration from the state of Orissa
Pattachitra Painting
Lord Shiva and his Gang (Ganas)
Lord Ishwara Perfoming His Dance
Painting from Saraswati Mahal Library Collection

Lord Krishna and His Women
Rasikapriya -- Mewad depiction of Keshav Das's poem.
Indian Paintings
Krishna Leela
Lord Krishna Rejoicing in the Company of Girls
Detail from a painting

Lord Shiva Performing His Cosmic Dance
Tanjore School of Painting
Tanjore Style Paintings
Tanjore Painting
Lord Shiva Performing His Cosmic Dance of Destruction
Tanjore School of Painting

Maharaja Durga Das
Jaipur school of painting, Rajasthan, 18th century A.D.
Jaipur Painting
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
Mother and Child
Detail from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma

The Mushrooming Culture
Cartoon Painting by Prof. B.G. L. Swamy
Mushrooming Culture
Art of India
The Nauch Girl
Painting by M.F. Husain

Nude Rawana
Notice his multiple heads and limbs
Paintings of Sibi Temple
Husains Paintings
Officer and Nauch Girl
Painting by M.F. Husain

A Painting by Mukta Venkatesh
See aslo: Flowers of Mysore
Floral Painting
Art of G.S.Shenoy
Painting by G.S. Shenoy

Painting by M.F. Husain
Husain's paintings feature bold colors, and bold themes
Paintings of M.F. Husain
Colonel  Ketchen of Madras Cavalry
Portrait of Colonel William Douglas Brodie Ketchen
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

Rati and Kama Seduce Each Other
Notice the horse and elephants decorated with women. Illustration from the Ashwa Shastra manuscript in Maharaja Serfoji's Saraswati Mahal Library Collection
Gods of Sex Fight it Out
Paintings of India
Rhythm and Light
Painting by Asit Kumar Haldar. 20th century

A School in Ancient India
Illustration by B.K. Mitra for Kalyan Magazine shows students and animals in harmony with nature
Ancient Gurukul
Paintings Inspired by Tribal Life
Tribal Women at Work
Painting by Rudrakumar Jha, Chindwara Museum Collection

Villagers Keeping Warm in the Forest
Rajasthani Painting, Jaipur
Lovers in Forest
Mogul Period Paintings
Westling in a Moghul Court
Detail from a Mogul miniature painting

Woman Getting a Lover's Portrait Painted
Moghul School of Painting
Moghul Paintings
Woman Drying her Long Hair
Woman in her Vanity
Rajasthani painting

A Woman Writing Letter
Moghul school of painting, North India
Moghul Paintings
Indan Paintings
Woman Writing a Letter

Wrestling Contest and Spectators
Detail from a Moghul painting
Moghul Painting

See Also:

  • The Arts of India -- The arts of India exemplify how life can indeed revolve around arts.