Famous Indian paintings, on the record

Devidasa of Nurpur A Courtesan and Her Lover Estranged by a Quarrel, from a Rasamanjari series Dated 1694–95 · Opaque watercolour, ink, silver and gold on paper Two women inside, one sulking man outside.

Rabindranath Tagore A Human Face Undated (Tagore painted from his sixties until his death in 1941) · Watercolour on paper A face that seems to come out of the dark.

Basawan (outline) and Chatr (painting) Akbar and the Elephant Hawa'i, from the Akbarnama c. 1590–1595 · Opaque watercolour and gold on paper The young emperor rides a mad elephant across the Jumna.

Abanindranath Tagore Bharat Mata 1905 · Watercolour on paper First painted as Mother Bengal, in a year of protest.

Shaikh Zain al-Din Brahminy Starling on a Neem Branch 1780, Calcutta · Opaque colours and ink on paper Painted for Lady Impey's menagerie album, 1780.

Amrita Sher-Gil Bride's Toilet 1937 · Oil on canvas From her South Indian trilogy, after Ajanta.

Raja Ravi Varma Galaxy of Musicians 1889 · Oil on canvas Women of many regions, gathered for one recital.

Amrita Sher-Gil Group of Three Girls 1935 · Oil on canvas, 73.5 × 99.5 cm Painted the year after she came home.

Rabindranath Tagore Head Study (Geometric) 1928–1929 · Ink on paper A head built like a house of stairs.

Bichitr Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings c. 1615–1618 · Opaque watercolour, gold and ink on paper The emperor gives his book to a saint, not kings.

Abanindranath Tagore Journey's End c. 1913 · Tempera on paper A camel folds under its load at sunset.

Workshop of Ghulam Ali Khan Kala with Sabre Drawn, and Kala in Uniform, from the Fraser Album 1815–1816, Delhi · Watercolour on paper, two album pages The same man, twice: as himself, and in uniform.

Unknown painter, Kangra school (Lambagraon series) Krishna's Longing for Radha, from a Gita Govinda c. 1820–1825 · Gum tempera and gold on paper Seven Krishnas wait in one forest.

Bhima, Kesu Ram, Bhopa and Nathu Maharana Ari Singh with His Courtiers Being Entertained at the Jagniwas Water Palace Dated 1767 · Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper A Udaipur court at leisure on its island palace.

India Post; printed by Hélio Courvoisier, Switzerland Mahatma Gandhi, 1½ annas 15 August 1948 · Photogravure on paper The first Indian on an Indian stamp.

Unknown Thanjavur painter Navaneeta Krishna Second half of the 19th century · Paint, gold leaf and gesso on cloth over wood The child Krishna enthroned in raised gold.

Bombay Mint One Rupee, George V 1918 · Silver, 11.66 g, 30.5 mm The rupee that had to lose its pig.

Hashim Portrait of Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur, from the Shah Jahan Album c. 1620 (portrait); calligraphy on the reverse 1534 or later · Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper A Deccan sultan, painted for a Mughal album.

Attributed to Nihal Chand Portrait of Maharaja Savant Singh with His Consort, Bani Thani Mid-1700s · Gum tempera, ink and gold on paper A king, a singer, and the face of Kishangarh.

Attributed to Nainsukh of Guler Raja Balwant Singh of Jasrota Examining a Painting with Nainsukh c. 1745–1750 · Opaque watercolour and gold on paper A patron studies a picture; the painter waits.

Unknown (Coronation Cinematograph, Bombay) Raja Harishchandra: notice for the first public run 1913 · Printed notice India's first feature film, billed above a foot-juggler.

Raja Ravi Varma Saraswati (oleograph) c. 1930 (posthumous print after a painting by Ravi Varma, d. 1906) · Chromolithograph on rice paper, 70 × 50 cm A print made long after the painter died.

Issued under Sir Bartle Frere, Chief Commissioner of Sindh Scinde Dawk, half anna, red wafer 1 July 1852 · Embossed red sealing wax on paper Asia's first postage stamp, pressed in sealing wax.

Raja Ravi Varma Shakuntala 1898 · Oil on canvas A thorn in her foot, an excuse to look back.

Mughal imperial mint Square Gold Mohur of Akbar 1578–1580 · Gold, 1.91 × 1.91 cm Akbar's gold, struck square.

Balchand The Death of Inayat Khan October 1618, Agra · Opaque watercolour on paper, mounted in an album A courtier near death, painted from life.

Lala Deen Dayal The Great Elephant Saluting 1885–1900 · Albumen silver print from glass negative, 21.1 × 27.3 cm An elephant raises its trunk for the camera.

Felice Beato The Secundra Bagh, Showing the Breach and Gateway 1858 · Albumen print, 25.4 × 30.5 cm A Lucknow garden, a few months after the killing.

Kesav Das and Mah Muhammad The Spy Zambur Brings Mahiya to the City of Tawariq, from the Hamzanama c. 1570 · Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on cloth, mounted on paper One page of Akbar's largest book, painted on cloth.

Raja Ravi Varma There Comes Papa 1893 · Oil on canvas His daughter and grandson, waiting at the door.

Unknown painter at Kota Tiger Hunt of Ram Singh II c. 1830–1840 · Gum tempera, ink and gold on paper A king shoots a tiger from a boat.

Unknown Kalighat painter Trivikrama (The Three Steps of Vishnu) c. 1890, Calcutta · Gum tempera, graphite, ink and tin on paper Vishnu takes his second step; a king looks up.

Nasiruddin Varati Ragini, from the Chawand Ragamala 1605 · Opaque watercolour on paper A musical mode, painted as a scene, in 1605.

Unknown Kalighat painter Woman Striking a Man with a Broom c. 1875, Calcutta · Watercolour on paper Domestic order, briefly reversed.

Unknown painter at Bijapur (called the Dublin Painter) Yogini with a Mynah Bird Early 17th century · Pigment, ink and gold on paper An ascetic in a princess's clothes, mynah in hand.

Mughal mint at Agra Zodiac Coin of Jahangir: Aries 1618–1623 · Gold A ram where the month should be.