A large number of the finest Rajasthani paintings have been attributed to Bundi. The early painters seem to have developed a fascination for Mughal themes and technique, setting the trends for the later school.  

The style that developed in Bundi shows characteristic architectural features with pools of water in front on which float lazily the Brahmani ducks, while lush plantain trees abound having flabby leaves. Also fanciful flowering trees bearing star-like blooms and rich colouring with emphasis on orange and green, garden layouts in a series of patterns for flower beds with fountains in between, were featured, borrowing from Mughal Akbari painting.  In the Ragamala  illustrations great attention is paid to details. There was a beginning in depicting various animals, especially the elephant, all of which mark out Bundi as a distinct and a separate school. 

Since the ruler of Bundi were in constant contact with the Deccan, throughout the Bundi painting period, certain Deccani influences are also seen. The Bundi painters also excelled in painting  elephants as opposed other Rajasthani states  an abundance of paintings depicted elephant fights . 

The earliest evidence of Bundi painting is to be seen in a few paintings from  AD 1650 and in several Ragamala    illustrations of AD 1660 – 1680 painted after the style of the famous Chunar  Ragamala  series which was painted at Chunar by Muslim artists who had formerly had some training in the Akbari atelier. 

The early themes (AD1530) were like ragmala, Baramasa and Rasikpriya. Gradually court scenes, hunting scenes, portraits, equestrian studies etc. were also included.