Question

With reference to the progress in art and architecture during the Gupta era, answer the following question:

What are the characteristic features of the Ajanta painting?

Answer 1

The characteristic features of the Ajanta Paintings are as follows:

1. The paintings were done on walls and are called Frescoes,
2. The rock walls were first plastered with a thick coating of clay, mixed with straw, gypsum, and other materials. Then a thin layer of lime-plaster was applied to produce a glazed surface for making the painting more effective.
3.  On the glazed surface of the wall, the outlines of the figures were drawn first. The artists used water-colors.
4. The paintings had three main subjects i.e., Buddha and Bodhisattvas; Incidents and scenes, taken from Jatakas, about the life of Buddha in his past and present lives; Beautiful designs of flowers, trees, animals and mythological characters,
5. The painting conveyed a secular message.
6. The painting displayed a panoramic view of life in ancient India with the figure of kings and courtiers, royal ladies in their harem and ordinary women, masters, and labourers, priests and ascetics, peasants and beggars.
   The painting found in cave I, is the figure of Avalokitesvara Padmapani which represents a Bodhisattva. The artists have vehemently portrayed expression of compassion and tenderness which was characteristic of Padmapani, whose mission was to relieve human suffering by taking it upon himself.