A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day c15.s7.4

c15.s7.4

The paintings on the roof of the Dambulla rock-temple, about fifteen miles south-west of Sīgiri, considered by some people to be the best example of Buddhist art in the island, are described by Tennent as being 'highly coloured illustrations of scenes in the history of Buddhism, such as the landing of Wijayo, the preaching of Mahindo, and the combat of Dutugaimini and Elala'. So far as I can ascertain, no reproductions of them are available. They cannot well be older than the close of the twelfth century, when King Nissanka Malla restored the temple, which had been sacked by the Tamils of the mainland, and it is possible that they may be of much later date, or they may be old work touched up and renewed from time to time.