Old Tanjore or Thanjavur, is a classic South Indian technique of painting developed in an ancient city called Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. India’s opulent past is captured in the use of rich flat and vivid colours, with simple iconic compositions, glittering gold foils overlaid on delicate but extensive gesso work and inlay of glass beads and pieces of rarely precious and semiprecious stones. Fundamentally serving as devotional icons, the subject of most of the paintings are gods, goddesses and saints. These flourished in 17th and 18th century, especially under the Maratha rule.