Jain Miniature Paintings from Western India c6.393

c6.393

PIECES of coarsely woven cloth (khaddar) were extensively used as carrier for painting in ancient India. In the *Samyutta Nikāya*¹, the use of cloth (*dussa-paṭa*) along with the well polished wooden panel (*suparinmattha phalaka*), is mentioned for painting. In the *Visuddhimagga* ², canvas is mentioned as the ground or support of painting. In the *Mahāvamsa*,³ the representation of a palace drawn with cinnabar on cloth is mentioned, which seems to mean a scroll containing the representation of a story. In the *Dutavākya* of Bhāsa, Duryodhana describes a canvas picture, depicting Draupadī being dragged by hair. The *Kāmasūtra* also mentions painting on cloth.⁴ The *Pañchadaśī* of Mādhavāchārya⁵, while discussing the four modes of higher self, compares them with the four conditions of canvas painting. The canvas is washed (*dhauta*), burnished (*ghaṭṭita*), drawn upon (*lāñchchhita*) and coloured (*rañjita*).