The Pictorial Art in the Indian sub-continent dates probably from the prehistoric times (Raigarh, Madhya Pradesh).
The rock painting lasted upto the IIIrd Millennium before our era (Pachmarhi, Central India). As for pottery painting, it existed at the epoch of Mohenjo Daro (Indus Valley Civilisation, 2500 years B.C.).
On the other hand, no vestige of mural of the Vedic epoch, or more recently, of the Mauryas Dynasty, Bihar (IV-II centuries B.C.), have been found, however evidence of such paintings has been described in the ancient texts (Ramayana, Shilpashastra).

The most ancient paintings have been discovered in the Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra (IInd century B.C.); the veritable development of pictorial art began at this epoch.

Palm-leaf painting had been progressively replaced by Paper Painting which dates from the XIVth century. From then on, many Art Schools developped, firstly to depict religion (mandala). Later on, two cultural trends came in: The Hindu and The Mughal.

These Hindu Schools developed in Gujarat, in Rajasthan and especially in the tiny Himalayan Kingdoms.The Mughal School (style created by the Persian painters in the North of India) developed mainly in Agra, Delhi and in the Deccan region, thanks to the Muslim Sovereigns.

However different style of paintings continue to exist in different regions of India, given below are some examples of this rich diversity: