The paintings of the Vijayanagar represent the great revival of Hindu religion and art in South India. During the Vijayanagar era, the wall paintings made a comeback. The best representation of these paintings can be seen in the Virabhadra temple at Lepakshi. The Vijayanagar at Lepakshi are very decorative in style.

In most of the Vijayanagar paintings, human faces usually appear in the profile, figures stand with a slight slant with both feet pointing in the same direction. All these paintings are seen mainly on the ceilings of the mandapas and in the corridors of the temple. But unfortunately, most of them have got damaged now. Some of these Vijayanagar paintings depict the scenes depict Draupadi`s wedding and Kiratarjunya (Arjuna`s penance). Few other pictures show Viruppanna and Viranna with their sons and guards. They are shown wearing long white robes with a printed cloth round their waist.

The Vijayanagar paintings have covered the ceiling of the great Virupaksha temple at Hampi and the themes of them are generally religious. There is simplicity and vigour in the style of the paintings with a sense of movement and energy caught in the figures, which represent a linear style. The ceiling of the Virupaksha temple mandapa has a painting, which depicts Vidyaranya, the guru of Harihara and Bukka, the founders of the Vijayanagar Empire being carried in a palanquin. These paintings show a rhythmic forward movement and do not look overcrowded. They also show the episodes from the life of King Manunitikanda Chola, who granted justice to a cow whose calf was run over by his son`s chariot. In these paintings the king is shown sacrificing the prince under the chariot`s wheels, but God Siva is restoring life to both the victims and praising the king`s sense of justice. Most of these Vijayanagar paintings depict the mythological legends of Siva and stories from the epics but they also represent the life and customs of the Vijayanagar Empire.