Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c76.109

v2.c76.109

Suprabhedāgama says, “पटे पट्टे कुड्ये वा चित्रसंभवः” Thus both the mural paintings and the painting on cloth and board were in vogue from the early times in India. T. Gopinath Rao in his Elements of Hindu Iconography (page 53) says; “The very name Chitrābhās applied for painting is suggestive of the fact that the principles of light and shade also were well understood pretty early by the Indians. This word Chitrābhās means that which resembles the Chitra or solid natural images. The appearance of solidity comes to a picture painted on a flat surface only when light and shade are properly disposed in the picture. From the several instances of ancient paintings found in India, it is easy to form an estimate regarding the great progress made by Indians in the art of painting in the early times. The Frescos of Ajaṇṭa and wall paintings in the temples on the Malabar coast of the Kerala State which later havenot as yet attracted the attention of scholars disclosed a notable advance made in India in this dificult art of painting.”