Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c77.256

v2.c77.256

"After the third century A.D., Taranath remarks on an appreciable decline 'it seemed as if the knowledge of art had vanished from among men'. A revival took place later, and the author then gives an account of some of the Buddhist schools of painting. The three main schools were the Middle Country, the Western and the Eastern. Geographically the Middle Country school of painting corresponded substantially to the Uttar Pradesh of the present day. It was founded by a great painter and sculptor, of the name of Bimbasara, born in Magadha in the reign of king Buddhapaksha, whose date is presumed to be about the fifth or sixth century A.D. Taranath remarks that the painters of this school were very numerous, and the styles resembled the early works of the Devas. Bimbasara may be therefore regarded as having effected a renaissance of the ancient style of painting, as this existed some ten centuries previously. The Western school may be located in Rajputana, as the principal artist was Sringadhara, born in Marwar in the reign of King Sila. This monarch was probably Siladitya Guhila, of Udaipur, who lived in the seventh century A.D. The paintings of this school much resembled those of the Yakshas. The Eastern school flourished in Varenda (Bengal) under the kings Dharampala and Devapala, in the ninth century, and the style was that of the Nagas. Dhiman and his son, Bitpalo, were the most famous artists of the Eastern school, and they both appear to have been equally proficient in painting, sculpture and metal work”.