The Kishangarh school of painting is known world over. Portraits with long necks and typical Rajasthani features and use of subdued colors make them splendid and unique. The Kishangarh school excels in its Bani Thani paintings.

The originality of style can be credited to its royal patron - Raja Sawant Singh, also known as Nagari Das, who was the originator of these paintings. Bani Thani is said to be a singer and poet in his court. It was his love for Bani-thani that gave this art to Kishangarh. Strong impact of Mughals and Mughal art is found in these paintings, due to contacts between Mughal and Rajput rulers. 

The rulers of Amer shared social and political relations with the Mughals. The paintings found at Kishangarh havelis and at other palaces and forts in Rajasthan show a blend of Mughal art with the original Rajasthani art. The Kishangarh style, unique in itself, gave birth to special type of paintings - Bani-Thani art of paintings, which is the specialization of Kishangarh style of painting.

Where Bani Thani paintings include only portraits with exaggerated features and long thin fingures, the Kishangarh school of paintings is famous for the court scenes. Beside Bani Thani paintings, Kishangarh paintings are found with various subjects. But due to the fame of Bani Thani world over, Kishangarh and Bani Thani paintings have become synonym for each other.