[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) › c19.71 # Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c19.71 Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c19.71 - **Language:** English ### [c19.71](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.71) Before concluding this chapter, it is desirable to give an account of the methods of painting temporary mud images that were made by astrologers for \*bali\* ceremonies. This painting is quite distinct from that practised by the craftsmen proper, and represents an historically \*Painting\* and actually more primitive art. The finished images, when a little dried, are first whitened with kaolin paste, then painted in colours, red, green, grey and black. The red is made of pounded iron oxide (\*guru-gala\*) as used for the slip-painting of pottery; the green from pounded leaves of \*ranavara\* (\*Cassia auriculata\*); the black from pounded coconut-shell charcoal; and grey by mixing kaolin with the black. The colours are applied with a brush, and are combined with other decoration in the form of leaves and flowers of coconut, cut stalks of plaintain, etc. Some idea of the style and scope of this \*bali\* painting will be gathered from Pl. IV., 2. - [Previous: c19.70](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.70) - [Next: c19.72](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.72) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.71](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.71) · Pramāṇa