Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c10.s1.19

c10.s1.19

*Teaching of* on the decoration of a vihāra there was no lack of minor work which could be executed *drawing* by pupils while he himself was busy with the most important and difficult parts. The pupil, like the pupils of the painters of mediæval Europe, thus got his hand in, by completing the easier parts of real work in progress, instead of attempting too early to execute individual work of the most difficult sort, or perpetually working at uninteresting copies of no permanent value. As it was usual for one man to practise several of the higher crafts at the same time (as painting and ivory carving together, or with others as well), the pupils also had practice in several crafts, but usually selected one or more as their special work. A *galladda* proficient in five crafts was called *silpacāriya*.