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
	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
	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

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