A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day c20.s2.9

c20.s2.9

of the ancient bas-reliefs. If the spectator imagines that all the persons, trees, &c. are on hinges and can be raised to their feet, they will then all fall into their proper relative positions. The artist saw with his mind's eye all the figures standing up, but in order to paint them, conceived them all to be laid down on one side. The subject seems to be regarded and viewed from above, all the parts being equally bathed in light, which is not represented as coming from any particular direction. Consequently, there are no shadows, and there is hardly any shading. Strong sunlight is indicated by a wash of gold behind the big tree. The drawing is by Basāwan, the colouring by Bhawānī. I am inclined to prefer Basāwan to Daswanth.