Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c78.s2.11

v2.c78.s2.11

Sivarāmamūrti's significant remark in this connection is noteworthy—(cf. his paper 'Kalidās and Painting' ·J O. R. Madras Vol. VII 1933): “From the Citraśālās, decorations of houses with picture, portraits and imaginary pictures drawn on board and painting of creepers on the human body, the colour decoration of the elephant, down to the comparatively insignificant border decoration of garments, there was nothing so trivial as not to give scope for the expression of the enthnsiasm of the time for this noble art. It was not the professional artist that was the only store-house of this knowledge. Painting was a part of the polite education of the day and was freely practised by both sexes. Portrait-painting appears to have been very popular; memory and imagination were also given stimulus by paintings being executed even in the absence of models. The latter Kālidasa styles Bhāvagarnya citra."·