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The Tanjore paintings of the South India depict Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva and reflect the mythical source of music. In south India, at the end of the eighteenth century, the impact of foreign armies, particularly the French and the British, had hindered temple building. But the last spurt of inspiration, given by the Maratha Maharajas, Shahaji and Sarfoji II, to cultural activities in their capital Tanjore revived the art of dance, encouraged music and also brought about a hero-worship of the Maharaja and the courtiers in paintings on glass.
Some of the paintings of Sarfoji II, of familiar personages and of favorite divinities like Krishna, have survived in vivid colors on glass. They are in bold outlines, with an emphasis on decorative jeweler, done in a bizarre montage technique and have the naive charm of near-folk painting.
From the time of the Chola dynasty, Thanjavur was a center for art and learning. The fall of the Cholas saw the rise of the Vijaynagar empire and much of the south was unified under the Nayakas, the hereditary chiefs of the Vijayanagar kingdom who continued to patronize the arts. However, invasions and changes in rulership left their mark on the arts, and the Tanjore school of painting imbibed the culture and style of various conquering rulers. Tanjore paintings on wood were commissioned by patrons whose wealth decided the quality of art work on gold leaf or gems. The artists were Kshatriyas of the Raju community, for whom art was a ritual expression rather than a creative one. Infact, paintings followed prescribed themes and it was only on the lowest part that the artist was allowed to exercise his own imagination.The communist themes for Tanjore paintings are the ones, portraying Krishna or the coronation of Rama, called the Rampattabhishekam. The Navnita Krishna, or Krishna holding a ball of butter is an oft-repeated theme, as is the Darbar Krishna, Radha Krishna or Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabhama. Other popular themes are the Sreeranganatha or sleeping Vishnu, gajalakshmi and Vishnu with his consort Bhudevi and Sridevi. Uncommon themes are subjects like Markandaya, Dasavatar, Ashtadipala or the secular company school portraits and Sikh themes using the Tanjore technique.
