Animal Motifs in Indian Art

Animals have been man's favorite subject of art even from pre-historic periods. Here is a miscellaneous collection of pictures culled from thousands of years of Indian art, on animal motifs.



Depiction of Pets
Line drawings based on ancient sculptures
Pets in Ancient India
Elephants in Indian Art
Embroidered Elephants
A mosaic pattern produced by weaving geometrical elephant motifs

Women Riding Horses
Hoysala period sculpture, Karnataka
Horses and  Riders
Flying Birds
Birds from a Moghul Miniature Painting

Peacocks from a Mogul Miniature Painting
Birds in Indian Design
Black Deer, Golden Deer
Deer from a Mogul miniature painting
Picture of Krishnamriga

Feeding Birds
Detail from a North Indian Painting
Birds in Indian Art
Decorated Elephant
Elephant and Riders
Hoysala Sculpture, Halebidu

Ghareva Art, Madhya Pradesh
Goddess Danteshwari riding an elephanat
Elephant Rider
Mystical Two Headed Eagle
Gandabherunda -- The Two Headed Eagle
Brass Relief Work on a Door Frame from a Jain Monastery, Sravanabelagola

Animals on the Carved Arch of Sanchi
Birds and animal motifs have been elaborately carved on these arches.
Animal Motifs of Sanchi
Snake and Monkey
Friendship of Snake and a Monkey
Sculpture from a tantric temple of Kolar in Karnataka

Depiction of Pets
Depiction of Pets
Birds in Embrodery Design
"Birds of same feather flock together"
Example of richly detailed embroidery craft of Kashmir

Depcition of a Tiger in Kavi Art
See Also: Lost Kavi Art of Konkan coast
Tiger in Kavi Art Painting
Pre-historic Animal Motifs
Animal Motifs in Cave Art
Caves of Adamgad, Madhya Pradesh

Animal Motifs in Rock Shelter
See Also: Pre-historic Theater
Prehistoric Art with Animals
Mythical Animal
Fantastic Mythical Animal
Members of Lord Shiva's Gana

Prehistoric Animal Motifs
Animal Motifs
Pre-historic Horse Riders
Horses Trained for Battle
Illustration based on a cave shelter painting

A Celestial Bird Pays Music
Sculpture from Madhavarayaswami temple, Anantpur. circa 15th century
Mystical Bird Plays Tamburi
Paintings of Birds
Birds as Drawn by Early Humans
Birds depcited in hunting rituals

Prehistoric Cow
Illustration based on cave shelter painting
Animal Motifs from India
Bird Motifs From India
Birds from Prehistoric Art
Illustration based on cave shelter paintings

Bird
Illustration based on cave shelter painting
Animal Motifs from India
Animal Motifs from India
Welcome to a Hero
Illustration based on cave shelter painting

Animal Motifs in Prehistoric Art
Illustration based on cave shelter painting
Animal Motifs in Indian Art
Birds in Mogul Period Art
Birds in Mogul Painting

Use of Elephant in Sculptural Design
Animal Motifs
Bird Motifs
A Pair of Parrots
Detail from a temple decoration. Gopalkrishna Temple, Honavar

Lions in Hoysala Period Art
Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu
Animals in Hoysala Art
Rorse and Elephant Designs
Animal Motifs
Detail from Hoysala period panel, Karnataka

Long Tailed Elephant
Graphic based on a pre-historic cave painting
Animal Motifs
Animal Motifs
Prehistoric Theater
Designs based on cave shelter paintings of India

Peacock Motif
Detail from an Indian Postal Stamp
Bird Motifs in Indian Art
Animal Motifs
A Tiger Attacks a Boar
Detail from Bhatkal Sculpture, 16th century

Fighting Bulls
Detail from temple art, Marikamba Temple, Sirsi
Animals in Indian Art
Animal Motifs
Elephant in a Design Theme

See Also:

  • Kamat's Animals -- Real, imaginary, and holy Animals from India. Includes elephants, tigers, birds, insects, and other fantastic creatures.