What was the British perception of Indian fine arts during the 19th century?

Viewed as European and lacking training and sensibility

Answer: Viewed as European and lacking training and sensibility
British perceived Indian fine arts as European, and they believed that Indians lacked the training and sensibility to create and appreciate fine arts.

Fine arts was seen as European by the British. They felt that Indians lacked training and sensibility to be able to create and appreciate fine arts. By mid and late nineteenth century, art schools were established in major cities like Lahore, Calcutta (now, Kolkata), Bombay (now, Mumbai) and Madras (now, Chennai). These art schools tended to promote traditional Indian crafts, and academic and naturalist art that reflected Victorian tastes. Even the Indian crafts, which received support, were the ones based on European taste and on the demands made by its market.