[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [Mediaeval Sinhalese Art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908) › c19.49 # Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c19.49 Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c19.49 - **Language:** English ### [c19.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.49) To enable us to judge of the light in which art, and especially painting, was ordinarily regarded, an examination of some literary references will be useful. There was at this time no great philosophy of art; it was regarded almost entirely as decorative in aim. Here is the translation of a verse in the Nīlakobō Sandēśaya (eighteenth century): the writer, addressing the parrot messenger, “Sit quietly on the fruitladen kaduru tree, and behold the ambalam built at Polonnaruvavela, adorned with paintings of lions and leopards, as if by the advent of Viśvakarma with his mighty power.” - [Previous: c19.48](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.48) - [Next: c19.50](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.50) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.49) · Pramāṇa