Jain Miniature Paintings from Western India c9.s5.1

c9.s5.1

In the ancient wall-paintings of Ajaṇṭā, yellow extracted from yellow ochres was only used. In the *Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa*³⁸, orpiment (*haritāla*) is mentioned as one of the colouring materials. In the *Mānasollāsa*³⁹, the only yellow spoken of is orpiment. In the medieval Indian palm-leaf manuscripts, orpiment was used for correction and as a yellow pigment. Two kinds of orpiments, *dagaḍī* and *vargī*, are known and only the latter is used as pigment. The orpiment is thoroughly levigated to the consistency of fine wheat flour and sifted. This powder is again levigated with the gum Arabic solution. To determine the right proportion of the gum, the same experiment, as in the case of cinnabar, is suggested.⁴⁰