Thanjavur painting is a classical
South Indian painting style, which was
inaugurated from the town of
Thanjavur (anglicized as
Tanjore) and spread across the adjoining and geographically contiguous Tamil country. The art form draws its immediate resources and inspiration from way back about 1600 AD, a period when the
Nayakas of Thanjavur under the suzerainty of the Vijayanagara Rayas encouraged art—chiefly, classical dance and music—as well as literature, both in
Telugu and
Tamil and painting of chiefly Hindu religious subjects in temples. However, it can safely be surmised that Thanjavur painting, as we know it now, originated in the Maratha court of Thanjavur (1676 - 1855). It has been recognized as a
Geographical indication by the
Government of India in 2007-08.