Schools of Painting

The paintings of Assam can be categorised into three main schools.

Tai-Ahom School

The earliest existing examples of manuscripts illustrated in Assam represent the Tai-Ahom School and are from the Phung Chin manuscript dated 1437 AD, which contains illustrations depicting the mythological sixteen heavens and sixteen hells. Since Assam has a well-established artistic tradition in other art forms, it is thought that the art of painting existed much before this, but due to humid and adverse climatic conditions of the region, earlier works may not have survived.

Sattriya School

The Sattriya School of painting was developed by Sankaradeva, the 16th century spiritual leader of Assam. The earliest existing example is the 17th century manuscript the Chitra-bhagavata originally called the Adi-dasama, the text of which was translated into Assamese by Sankaradeva and recovered from a sattra in the district of Nagaon. Characteristics of the Sattriya School include nude male figures, the similiarity of male and female forms which may only be distinguishable by attire, large and wide fish-type eyes, ponds filled with lotus flowers, waterfowl and vermillion backgrounds.

Ahom or Court School

The Ahom or Court school emerged under the patronage of King Rudrasimha and the reign of King Sivasimha in the 1700s as a fusion of the Sattriya school and imported Muslim styles. Manuscripts that survive from that period include the Sankhasur-badha (1726) and the Dharma-purana (1735).