Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c77.258

v2.c77.258

The medieval Indian painting, however, is an exception and it does give us some historical information about the different styles of Mughal and Rajput paintings. Percy Brown observes: ‘Indian painting is classified by Indian connoisseurs, partly geographically, but mainly by the terms of its technique. Each school or local development is identified by its *Kalm*, a word translated literally as ‘pen’, but meaning ‘brush’ The different styles of painting are therefore referred to as of the *Delhi*, *Deccani* or *Kangra* kalm, etc., according to the character of the brush work. Only an expert or hereditary painter can be sure of the distinctions between pictures of different kalms, as some of these are very fine, but it is not difficult to define a broad classifications of the more important styles.