Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c7.283

c7.283

"In former days," he writes, "human masters who were endowed with miraculous powers produced astonishing works of art. It is expressly stated in the 'Vinaya-agama' and other works that the wall-paintings, etc., of those masters were such as to deceive by the likeness to the actual things depicted. For some centuries after the departure of the Teacher, many such masters flourished. After they had ceased to flourish, many masters appeared who were gods in human form: these erected the eight wonderful chaityas of Magadha—the Mahâbodhi, Manjusri-dundhubh-îshvara, etc. [the relic-shrines marking the