Jain Miniature Paintings from Western India c6.381

c6.381

A radical change was also effected in the choice of colours. Wherever yellow was used in the palm-leaf miniatures, its place was taken up by gold, though the use of yellow was not altogether prohibited. Gold and silver inks were also used for writing. As the years rolled on, the use of gold increased, and gilding became such a fascination that the painters were not even deterred to paint the costumes of the Jain monks in gold, with the decoration painted in white or red dots. Such was the decline in æsthetic taste that it became a maxim with the painters that greater the application of gold better the effects of other colours came out. This partiality for the glitter of the gold led to the invention of a new process by which at first the entire ground was covered with gold and then other colours were applied. In this period the use of ultramarine blue as well increased to a very considerable extent, and in many instances the entire ground was covered with it. Carmine and orange yellow are also used frequently, and a colour of intermediate shade between the carine and minium became favourite.