| The history of paintings in India is quite long. From the | | | | manuscripts. Though it is a perfect style of painting still |
| earlier times, Indian people have been quite artistic and | | | | it is not much practiced nowadays. |
| it reveals in the works of painting from time to time. | | | | Madhubani Painting: The origins of Madhubani painting is |
| While classifying these paintings, two forms are being | | | | believed to take place at the time of the Ramayana, |
| found. One is murals and the other is miniatures. Murals | | | | when King Janak commissioned artists to do paintings |
| are those that are found in caves, palaces and | | | | at the time of marriage of his daughter, Sita, with Sri |
| temples. These use to be large in size and are mostly | | | | Rama. Sri Rama is considered to be an incarnation of |
| rock painting. In this context a good example will be the | | | | the Hindu God Lord Vishnu. These types of paintings |
| painting found in Ajantha & Kailasantaha temple. | | | | have mostly been practiced in the Mithila region of |
| Miniature paintings are those that are being done in | | | | Bihar, India. |
| clothes, papers or in woods in small sizes. | | | | Rajasthani Painting: it originated and is found in |
| A few types of Indian painting are being discussed | | | | Rajasthan. It took birth in the royal courts of Rajputana, |
| below: | | | | India. The themes of these paintings are mainly, the |
| Miniature Painting: It is believed that the miniature | | | | stories of the epics- the Ramayana and the |
| painting developed in western India during the 16th to | | | | Mahabharata, Krishna’s life and beautiful |
| 18th century. The paintings of that century were part | | | | landscapes. Colors were prepared from minerals, |
| of manuscripts written at that time to illustrate and | | | | plants, conch shells and also precious stones, gold and |
| explain the subjects of the manuscripts. Examples are | | | | silver were used. |
| the Rajasthani & Mughal miniatures and Jain | | | | |