Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v2.c8.s2.3

v2.c8.s2.3

THE fresco is much damaged, but the portions which are intact show an exquisite sense of colour and a highly developed technique in the rendering of natural objects and human figures. Commencing from the left top corner, we see two celestial Sādhus (*Arhats*), apparently in the act of adoration before the Bodhisattva, whose colossal head is delineated below. The face of the *Arhat* at the extreme end shows great calm, which expression is confirmed by the position of his hand on his breast. The lobe of the left ear is elongated in a conventional fashion, an elongation apparently due to the Sādhus wearing large heavy ear-rings. In the right ear of this *Arhat* also, a large ear-ring may be seen. He is dressed in a light-green robe with stripes which have been indicated by fine white brush lines. The complexion is dark brown with a golden tinge, and the shading on the right shoulder and hand is prominent. The high lights on the nose and chin are also very marked, and a close observation of the original fresco shows that this effect has been gained by putting a whitish-yellow tint on the otherwise dark-brown colour of the face.