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
	Embroidered Elephants A mosaic pattern produced by weaving geometrical elephant motifs
Women Riding Horses Hoysala period sculpture, Karnataka
	Birds from a Moghul Miniature Painting
Peacocks from a Mogul Miniature Painting
	Deer from a Mogul miniature painting Picture of Krishnamriga
Feeding Birds Detail from a North Indian Painting
	Elephant and Riders Hoysala Sculpture, Halebidu
Ghareva Art, Madhya Pradesh Goddess Danteshwari riding an elephanat
	Animals on the Carved Arch of Sanchi Birds and animal motifs have been elaborately carved on these arches.
Friendship of Snake and a Monkey Sculpture from a tantric temple of Kolar in Karnataka
	Depiction of Pets
"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
Animal Motifs in Cave Art Caves of Adamgad, Madhya Pradesh
	Animal Motifs in Rock Shelter See Also: Pre-historic Theater
Prehistoric Animal Motifs
	Horses Trained for Battle Illustration based on a cave shelter painting
A Celestial Bird Pays Music Sculpture from Madhavarayaswami temple, Anantpur. circa 15th century
	Birds as Drawn by Early Humans Birds depcited in hunting rituals
Animal Motifs in Prehistoric Art Illustration based on cave shelter painting
	Birds in Mogul Painting
Use of Elephant in Sculptural Design
	Lions in Hoysala Period Art Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu
Animal Motifs Detail from Hoysala period panel, Karnataka
	Peacock Motif Detail from an Indian Postal Stamp

See Also:

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

 

Animals and birds 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.

Animal Motifs in Indian Art