Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v4.c16.s7: Floral Designs and Other Decorative Motifs
Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v4.c16.s7
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Floral Designs and Other Decorative Motifs
v4.c16.s7.1
Plate IX *a-b
v4.c16.s7.2
*These designs are executed in the ceiling of the veranda, in Cave XVII.*
v4.c16.s7.3
THE entire ceiling of the veranda is divided into panels containing creeper and floral designs of great variety. The artist in his love of rich patterns has not only delineated flowers in different stages of bloom, but has also added ornamental features to the stems and leaves of the creepers bearing these flowers (Plate IX *a-b*). He has further introduced aquatic birds and diminutive human figures to make the patterns fanciful and pleasing to the eye. For instance, notice the graceful representation of the duck in the second panel from the left of the middle row in Plate IX *a*. Similarly, note the design in the middle of two brackets (Plate IX *b*), in which two small boys are holding a pair of ducks. The drawing of the birds and the delineation of the tassels of the boys' caps, the ends of their scarves, and the fringes of their loin-cloths not only give a picturesque effect to the design, but also add to its liveliness. The drawing of the lotus-vine on the architrave, in front of the door, is also very attractive (Plate IX *b*).
v4.c16.s7.4
Among the colours used in painting these designs, green and yellow with white and black have been freely used; blue is rare, although this colour is common in other paintings of the period (fifth century).