About Tanjore Painting Tanjore Painting (Thanjavur Oviyam) is a classical South Indian Painting style, which was inaugurated from the town of Thanjavur.The English Name of Thanjavur is Tanjore. The art from draws its immediate resources and inspiration from why back about 11th century. A period when the Nayakas of Thanjavur Under the Suzerainty of the Vijayanagara Rayas encouraged art. The art is chiefly Hindu religious subjects in temples. The themes and Subjects are the Subjects of most Paintings are Hindu gods, goddesses, and Saints. Episodes from hindu puranas. There are also many instances when jain, sikh, muslim, chirstians other religious and even Secular Subjects were depicted in Tanjore Paintings.