Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c78.4

v2.c78.4

Now the problem is : which to begin first. From the chronological standpoint, both these streams, though may be said as flowing parallel to each other, the contention that literature comes first would not be disputed. Prehistoric, Vedic and primitive Buddhist records are a testimony to an early character of Indian painting both in the literature and the monuments. The paucity of refined and finished specimens of the artistic heritage stand in the way to pass any judgment of the early archaeological evidence. Contrary to this, painting was a highly cultivated art as is evident from an appropriate story, going back to the Epic Age of Indian history. (Uṣā's dream and Citralekhā's skilled attempt at the portraiture of the dream).