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Indian & South Asian Paintings

India and South Asia boast complex and illustrious traditions of painting. These works are as visually diverse and rich as the cultures they encompass. India’s painting tradition has been traced back more than 30,000 years to cave murals and continues through the end of the Medieval period (8th-10th century B.C.). During this period, miniature paintings on palm leaves are prominent and often feature Buddhist and Hindu iconography.

India’s painting tradition further evolved with the institution of colonial British rule during the 19th century. Cultural cross-pollination occurred as fewer Indian aristocrats could afford native artist commissions and the British Empire established schools in major cities. This developed a new style of Indian art paintings known as “Company” school, named in reference to the British East India Company. Company school paintings often feature native people in their traditional garb depicted in a romanticized manner characteristic of European painting in this era.


Quick Facts

  • The British Raj of the 19th century fused indigenous Indian and European sensibilities. Contemporary painters such as Atul Dodiya and Subodh Gupta continue the exploration of Indian identity among increasing cultural interchange
  • Neolithic cave paintings from the Vindhya mountain range offer scenes of humans living alongside animals and hunting using crude stone implements
  • Indian cave murals were typically rendered using a powdered mineral known as geru, a type of iron oxide

Recommended Items at Auction

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A set of three Indian miniatures, two in ebonized frames (H:13cm - largest)
Jun 26, 1:00 PM AEST
A set of three Indian miniatures, two in ebonized frames (H:13cm - largest)
by Lawsons
Est: AUD200- AUD300
AUD35010 Bids
Jamini Roy (Indian, 1887-1972) Tempera Painting
Jun 25, 10:00 AM EDT
Jamini Roy (Indian, 1887-1972) Tempera Painting
by Material Culture
Est: $600- $1,200
$4755 Bids
Nandalal Bose (Indian, 1882-1966) Watercolor
Jun 25, 10:00 AM EDT
Nandalal Bose (Indian, 1882-1966) Watercolor
by Material Culture
Est: $500- $1,000
$4003 Bids
Maqbool Fida Husain (Indian, 1915-2011) Painting
Jun 25, 10:00 AM EDT
Maqbool Fida Husain (Indian, 1915-2011) Painting
by Material Culture
Est: $2,000- $4,000
$1,3003 Bids
Mughel School, India, Late 18thC, European Woman
Jun 29, 11:00 AM EDT
Mughel School, India, Late 18thC, European Woman
by Kaminski Auctions
Est: $400- $600
$2502 Bids
Sakti Burman (Indian, b. 1935) Painting
Jun 25, 10:00 AM EDT
Sakti Burman (Indian, b. 1935) Painting
by Material Culture
Est: $800- $1,600
$4002 Bids
Large hand-painted Thangka – Celebration of Diwali, circa 1900. 194 x 124 cm.
Jun 24, 6:30 PM CEST
Large hand-painted Thangka – Celebration of Diwali, circa 1900. 194 x 124 cm.
by Medusa Auctioneers
Est: €10- €100
€802 Bids
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A Mughal watercolour depicting a seated man wearing a gold turban. 9 x 6 1/2 in. (22.9 x 16.5 cm.)
Jun 25, 9:00 AM PDT
A Mughal watercolour depicting a seated man wearing a gold turban. 9 x 6 1/2 in. (22.9 x 16.5 cm.)
by Maynards Fine Art & Antiques
Est: $100- $150
$1202 Bids
Jamini Roy (Indian, 1887-1972) "Musicians", 20" x 26"
Jun 25, 10:00 AM EDT
Jamini Roy (Indian, 1887-1972) "Musicians", 20" x 26"
by Material Culture
Est: $2,000- $4,000
$1,1002 Bids
AN USTAD ALLAH BUX, PAKISTANI, OIL ON CANVAS PAINTING, 1934
Jun 29, 12:00 PM EDT
AN USTAD ALLAH BUX, PAKISTANI, OIL ON CANVAS PAINTING, 1934
by Helios Auctions
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$5001 Bid
A MANJIT BAWA, INDIAN, OIL ON CANVAS PAINTING, 1997
Jun 29, 12:00 PM EDT
A MANJIT BAWA, INDIAN, OIL ON CANVAS PAINTING, 1997
by Helios Auctions
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$5001 Bid
Two Indo-Persian miniature paintings on ivory 5cm x 9cm and 4.7cm x 9.5cm
Jul 14, 9:00 AM AEST
Two Indo-Persian miniature paintings on ivory 5cm x 9cm and 4.7cm x 9.5cm
by Artvisory
Est: AUD100- AUD200
AUD501 Bid
TWO MUGHAL MINIATURE PAINTINGS.
Jun 30, 9:00 AM EDT
TWO MUGHAL MINIATURE PAINTINGS.
by Amelia Jeffers
Est: $150- $300
$801 Bid
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A Mughal watercolour, 9 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. (24.1 x 18.4 cm.)
Jun 25, 9:00 AM PDT
A Mughal watercolour, 9 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. (24.1 x 18.4 cm.)
by Maynards Fine Art & Antiques
Est: $100- $150
$701 Bid
The artisan's Workshop
Jun 30, 3:00 PM CEST
The artisan's Workshop
by Casa D'aste Guidoriccio
Est: €250- €400
€1401 Bid
Painting from a Ragamala
Jun 30, 3:00 PM CEST
Painting from a Ragamala
by Casa D'aste Guidoriccio
Est: €400- €600
€2201 Bid
Small miniature depicting Kalki
Jun 30, 3:00 PM CEST
Small miniature depicting Kalki
by Casa D'aste Guidoriccio
Est: €150- €200
€1001 Bid
Miniature painting depicting a Gopi worshipping Krishna and Radha
Jun 30, 3:00 PM CEST
Miniature painting depicting a Gopi worshipping Krishna and Radha
by Casa D'aste Guidoriccio
Est: €300- €500
€1401 Bid
Manjit Bawa (Indian, 1941-2008) Painting, 38" x 28"
Jun 25, 10:00 AM EDT
Manjit Bawa (Indian, 1941-2008) Painting, 38" x 28"
by Material Culture
Est: $5,000- $10,000
$2,5001 Bid
Five paintings
Jun 26, 2:30 PM CEST
Five paintings
by Millon & Associes
Est: €400- €600
€4001 Bid
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A Mughal watercolour depicting figures dancing in a circle. 9 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. (24.8 x 16.5 cm.)
Jun 25, 9:00 AM PDT
A Mughal watercolour depicting figures dancing in a circle. 9 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. (24.8 x 16.5 cm.)
by Maynards Fine Art & Antiques
Est: $100- $150
$701 Bid
INDO-PERSIAN ILLUSTRATED PAGE
Jun 27, 11:00 AM EDT
INDO-PERSIAN ILLUSTRATED PAGE
by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
Est: $300- $400
$500 Bids
Persian miniature, 19th - 20th century
Jun 26, 7:00 PM CEST
Persian miniature, 19th - 20th century
by Hessink's
Est: €40- €100
€400 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Indian & South Asian Paintings


Casa D'aste Guidoriccio

Casa D'aste Guidoriccio

Millon & Associes

Millon & Associes

Material Culture

Material Culture

Galerie Zacke

Galerie Zacke