PAINTINGS
AJANTA
CAVE PAINTINGS
the many-splendoured delights of Ajanta compiled by Subramanian Swaminathan
e-mail: sswami99@gmail.com
September 2007
Depiction of Movement
Vishnu-dharmottara says: "He, who
paints waves, flames, smoke... according to the movement of the wind, is
a great painter."
Ajanta painters took great pleasure
in composing scenes involving movement with great zest.
The floating clouds, the swaying
foliage and apsaras and gandharvas flying swiftly through the air, produce
a fantastic movement when Indra and his entourage descent to worship the
Buddha.
Indra's descent, Cave 1
A mad elephant was let loose on
the Compassionate One by his envious half-brother. Elephant on the
rampage is shown in great dynamism.
Subjugation of Nalagiri, Cave 17
This charging bull on the ceiling in Cave 1
is an example in depicting movement
Fighting Bulls
A painting on a pillar, Cave 1
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