The artistic achievements of great masters of painting in India are emphasized in this encyclopaedic study. Recent discussions of these paintings have tended to focus on their themes with these shown as reflections of religious values and practices for example or as representations of a courtly way of life. Masters of Indian Painting instead identifies many of the greatest Indian artists and emphasizes their finest works as individual artistic achievements. This involves an art-historical shift. The supposed anonymity of craftsmen in India has traditionally been given prominence. Significant information has become available about those who have produced these pictures. however. and many paintings signed or otherwise inscribed with the artist's name are now known. Newly identified self-portraits further proclaim the respect that has in fact long been given to individual master artists.

Recognizing the importance of these shifts of emphasis and using all of this new documentary information many of the leading scholars of Indian art have produced new studies of master painters and their inter-relationships and new interpretations of their achievements. Full of magnificent illustrations. Masters of Indian Painting is presented in homage to the great artists of India.