Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c38.1

c38.1

Details from *jātaka* paintings at Degaldoruva Vihāra, done between 1771 and 1786 A.D. The pictures are chosen from those immediately to the left of the door of the image-room, illustrating the Vessantara Jātaka, of which a summary has been given above, p. 42. In the original paintings, there is no division into separate scenes; there is instead ‘continuous narration,’ the key to the events being only given by a few words of Sinhalese beneath the principal scenes. The upper panel reproduced shows first Prince Vessantara, riding in state upon the rain-giving white elephant. “Early in the morning,” says the jātaka, “the Prince, intending a visit to the alms-hall, washed himself with sixteen pitchers of perfumed water, and broke his fast, and mounted upon the back of his noble elephant richly adorned proceeded to the eastern gate.” Finally, near the southern gate, he met the Brahmans from Kalinga, and in answer to their prayer gave to them the elephant, with all its trappings, and this gift is represented on the right hand of the same panel.