South Indian School of Art - Introduction

The Cholas who ruled South India after the Pallavas were great patrons of art and literature. The rhythmic and graceful paintings of the Brhadiswara temple at Tanjore, built by Raja Raja Chola is the best example of the art of that period. The Vijayanagar kings, who rose into prominence in the South about the year 1336 AD, and their successors, the Nayaks, followed the footsteps of their predecessors, the result has large scale wall paintings continued to be the tradition up to the beginning of the 18th century and the Tanjore artists followed the art tradition till 19th century AD.