Methods for murals

Abstract

Temple murals of southeastern India form a distinctive and important class in the broader history of temple painting in South Asia. This region possesses a well-documented and long tradition of mural painting. In Hindu temples, paintings are typically found on the walls of temple sancta, and on the walls and ceilings of processional or circumambulatory routes. Although there are precious few examples of temple painting predating the 16th century, paintings from the early modern period to the present offer a wealth of material through which to enhance our understanding of Hindu temples and the communities who claim them. Resisting the impossible task of surveying all murals, styles, or traditions, this chapter highlights the contributions that the study of murals makes to a broader understanding of artistic and religious history by focusing on case studies across the history of painting in southeastern India.