Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v2.c8.s1.7

v2.c8.s1.7

The ceiling and walls of the veranda are beautifully painted, and, on account of ample daylight, colours can be studied accurately there. The artist will notice several tints of *terra verde*¹, and the freshness of the blues² despite the passage of time will surprise him. Some interesting technical details may be observed as well. For example, the high lights on the noses and chins of the dark brown figures are not produced by wiping out the colour, but by applying a light yellow tint over the brown. Again, below the eye-lids of some figures, blue streaks have been painted to represent shade, which serve their purpose extremely well. The effect of roundness is produced by deepening the colours along the outline and in some places perspective is gained by the insertion of dots. All of these particulars are noticed in detail in the descriptions of the frescoes which follow this chapter.