The Painting had attained is fullness in the Gupta era. There are very few examples of Pre-Gupta Painting. Early images are found on the walls of prehistoric era mountain caves. Paintings are also found on the walls of some cavity-temples. The cave paintings of Ajanta belong to Buddhism. In it, depiction of Buddha and Bodhisattvas is found. Various events in the life of Buddha and scenes from Jataka tales have been abundantly numbered.
By the time of the Gupta period, painters developed their art sufficiently. Famous examples of the history of painting of this era, a place called Ajanta is located in Aurangabad district of modern Maharashtra province.
Seventeenth cave paintings are of various types. It is called the picture gallery. These are mostly related to the events of Buddha’s birth, life, the Great Depression and Mahaparinirvana. Among all the paintings, the Mother and the baby are attractive, in which the Buddha’s wife probably dedicating her son to him. With boundless reverence and devotion, both mother and son are watching Buddha together.
Twenty-nine caves were made by cutting the rock here. Among them were four Chaityagriha and the rest of the Vihar caves. Paintings has been done on these caves. Following is the description of cave number 17 in these caves–
Seventeenth cave paintings are of various types. It is called the picture gallery. These are mostly related to the events of Buddha’s birth, life, the Great Depression and Mahaparinirvana. Among all the paintings, the Mother and the baby are attractive, in which the Buddha’s wife probably dedicating her son to him. With boundless reverence and devotion, both mother and son are watching Buddha together.
Seeing this picture instills sympathy and compassion. Haivel has also preferred to keep this painting in the likeness of Buddhist art from Borobudur of java. In this picture related to the life of the Buddha, a picture of his Great demise is engraved with utmost liveliness. It has a crown on the head of the young man Siddhartha and the body is shapely. Non-violence, peace and quietness are dripping from the eyes.
Mukhamudra appears to be severe and indifferent to worldliness. In Nivedita’s words, this painting is perhaps the greatest artistic performance of Buddha, that the world has ever seen. Such imagination can be reproduced with difficulty.
Another picture depicts an emperor talking to golden goose. In the view of Nivedita, there can be no other picture in the world beyond this picture.
While wandering in the sky in this cave, Gandharvaraaj is depicted with apsaras and introductions. In other paintings, hunting scenes of black antelope, elephants and lions have been made with skill. The scenes taken from the Jataka tales in the caves of Ajanta also get multiple markings. The Jataka stories are most commonly depicted in the seventeenth cave. A complete depiction of the stories of Mahakapi Jataka, Hans Jataka, Hasti Jataka, chhandant Jataka, Mahasutasom Jataka, Saam with belonging to his earlier births is also obtained.
Reference : https://www.indiaolddays.com
