The shekhawati frescoes were influenced by the Persian, the Jaipur and the Mughal School of painting.

A look at the thematic content, from the earliest once painted in 1750 to the later once of the British Period (1930) shows a distinct change in tastes and preference.

The themes predominantly are mythological mingled with illustrations of local legends, hunting scenes, portraits and depictions of everyday life. The later dater paintings depict a distinct influence of the British and the impact of technology: motor cars, aeroplanes, ships, telephone, gramophone, trains, balloons and bicycles… all painted on the walls.

Oleographs become the fashion of the day and began to be transferred to the walls, in the form of frescoes. Photography, which came to India in 1840, played a major role since photographs served as models for painters.

“The mood of the haveli murals is that of brass bands, of festive parades or of decorously cheerful family weddings and reunions. Much of the appeal is nostalgic, evocative of almost forgotten celebrations brought to mind by flowers pressed in old books or by dog-eared faded photographs”. (Stuart Cary Welch)

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