Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c19.25

c19.25

It is worth while to describe in slightly greater detail the wall paintings of a particular *vihāra*. I have already quoted from the Degaldoruva *sannasa* some account of the decoration of the *vihāra* there; it is stated that twenty-four images of Buddha were painted on the walls and ceilings, beside other workmanship. Of these paintings, the *jātaka* paintings on the outer surface of the wall of the *pilima-gē* are the most interesting and important. Four *jatakas* are illustrated; these are the Sattubhatta and Vessantara Jātakas on the left of the main door, Sutasoma Jātaka between the doors, and the Sīlava Jātaka on the right. The little iron-barred window referred to above, p. 134, separates the Sattubhatta and Vessantara Jātakas on the left. Mr. Cave in his ‘Book of Ceylon’, Fig. 489, gives a good picture of Degaldoruva, showing the doors and the painted wall; in the same picture may be observed the twelve monolithic pillars with their cushion capitals, the painted ceiling, and the beautiful ‘moonstone’ or doorstep. Four painters worked at Degaldoruva, the work being completed in 1771, or at any rate before 1786, when the sannasa was granted. Their names were Nilagama Paṭabenda, who was the chief gihiya, or foreman; Devaragampola Silvaṭenna Unnānse, who was an ‘unordained’ priest of ācāri caste, and worked also at Riḍi Vihāra, being still remembered as the best painter of his day; Kosvatte Hitaranayide, by whom the Sutasoma Jātaka is said to have been done; and another man whose name is not remembered. The work was overseen by Moratoṭa Mahā Nāyaka of Malvatte, who was the first incumbent.