An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c18.s7.6

v1.c18.s7.6

Paintings of the historical period are more numerous and best preserved because they are of a comparatively recent date and usually overlie older paintings. The variety of themes is limited and they tend to be extremely repetitive. The most common subjects are fighting scenes and processions. Warriors are shown on foot or riding horses and elephants. They use metal weapons like swords and shields, spears and bows and arrows. Processions consist of horse- and elephant-riders, sometimes with footmen preceding horse-riders. Horses and elephants are sometimes caparisoned. Less commonly does one see the domesticated cattle. There are Hindu religious motifs like Gaṇeśa and Kubera and *ālpanā* designs. The animal figures are schematic and highly stylized and many of them or so distorted that they look like caricatures. This art clearly marks a great decline in artistic tradition. It is certain that the painters of these figures were not inspired by artistic activity but were only repeating traditional motifs as a matter of ritual necessity.