After the fall of Vijayanagar Empire in 1565 AD in the battle of Talikota, Mysore and Tanjore (in Tamil Nadu) became great cultural centers where the traditional paintings of Vijayanagar School was given a fresh lease of life.

Srirangapatna, an island between the south and north Cauvery rivers, situated about 15 km east of Mysore was the earlier seat of a viceroy of Vijayanagar who was a member of the royal family.

During the later part of 16th century, the last viceroy Thirumala retired from active life after handing over the crown to Raja Wodeyar, the ruler of Mysore. Raja Wodeyar (1578-1617 AD) transferred the capital of his kingdom from Mysore to Srirangapatna. The successors of Raja Wodeyar, viz.. Ranadhira Kantirava Narasaraja Wodeyar, Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar, Dodda Krishnaraja Wodeyar patronized the art of paintings by getting temples and palaces painted with deities and mythological scenes. But none of them survived due to Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan's ascendance to power and the consequent ravages of war between them and the British.

After the death of Tippu Sultan in 1799 AD in the IV Mysore War, this kingdom was restored to the original Hindu Royal Family of Mysore. Its ruler, Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar ushered a new era by refining the ancient traditions of Mysore paintings. The Vijayanagar style underwent modifications and acquired a distinct character under the Mysore rulers and came to be known as the Mysore School of Painting.

The paintings in the Jaganmohan Palace at Mysore is a living tribute to the range of painting as it flourished under Mummadi Krishnraja Wodeyar.