Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v2.c8.s12.3

v2.c8.s12.3

THE delineation of dragons has been a favourite theme with the artists of Ajanta, who have given them highly decorative forms. In the present panel, the artist has drawn figures at the four corners, based on tigers’ and crocodiles’ heads, though the additions of tusks and horns have given them rather a mythical effect. The artist has given further play to his fancy, and the grotesqueness of these creatures has been accentuated by foliated terminations of exquisite workmanship. The colours and drawings of two of these designs have faded to a great extent, but the remaining two are fairly intact, and in one we see a monster with a grinning face. The ornamentation of the teeth, eyebrows, and horns, show the artist's play of imagination, which is further demonstrated by the floriated scrolls. It will be interesting to note that the whole design is worked out on a dark background by white dots and lines. Red colour has been added afterwards only here and there to give warmth and vivacity to the subject.