Jain Miniature Paintings from Western India c9.s10.13

c9.s10.13

In the *Mānasollāsa*69, brushes are said to have been made from the soft hair obtained from the ears of a calf, tied to the tips of the brush-handles and strengthened with the application of melted shellac. To this kind of brush, the *Mānasollāsa*70 gives the name of *lekhanī* divided into three classes,—fine (*sūkshma*), medium (*madhya*) and thick (*sthūla*).⁷¹ Thick brushes were used for applying flat colour washes (*sthūlayā lepanam kāryam*) with oblique strokes (*tiryagāhitāyatayā*). Held straight or sideways, the medium brush was used for drawing, and the fine brush was used for fine and delicate brush strokes.