Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c10.153

c10.153

A very interesting offshoot of the great Ajanta school was discovered some years ago in Ceylon, in two caves, or “pockets,” excavated on the western face of the wonderful Sîgiri Rock, in the central province of the island. They belong to the fifth century a.d. Only fragments of the paintings have survived the effects of the tropical weather to which they have been exposed for nearly 1,500 years, but these are in a much better state of preservation than those of Ajanta, which have suffered most from human destructive agencies. The two reproductions, Plates XLVII.–VIII., from the excellent copies of them by Mr. D. A. L. Perera, now in the Colombo Museum, will serve to illustrate the Botticellian grace of the parent school, though they are not equal in technique to the best work of Ajanta.