Tanjore paintings are characterised by rich, flat and vivid colors, simple iconic composition, glittering gold foils overlaid on delicate but extensive gesso work and inlay of glass beads and pieces or very rarely precious and semi-precious gems. In Thanjavur paintings one can see the influence of Deccani, Vijayanagar, Maratha and even European styles of painting. Essentially serving as devotional icons, the subjects of most paintings are Hindu gods, goddesses, and saints. Episodes from Hindu puranas and religious texts were visualised, drawn and painted with the main figure or figures placed in the central section of the picture (mostly within an architecturally delineated space such as a mantapa) surrounded by several subsidiary figures, themes and subjects.
There are also many instances when Jain, Sikh, Muslim, other religious and even seculasubjects were depicted in Tanjore paintings.
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