Artwork: Bodhisattva Padmapani

Artists: Unknown

Created: 5th-6th century

Medium: Mural (detail)

Location: Ajanta Cave 1, Lenapur village, near Aurangabad, India

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“The Ajanta mural painting Bodhisattva Padmapani, located in Maharashtra state, western India, reflects the beauty and classical sophistication of the arts of the Indian Gupta dynasty. The Ajanta caves were carved out of rock over six centuries and functioned as a monastic retreat, and the place to worship. They were designed to spread the Buddhist doctrine via the pilgrims, monks, craftsmen, and merchants who traveled in the region. The caves were decorated and carved between 200 BCE and 650 CE, and most of the artworks were inspired by the life of the historical Buddha. The Bodhisattva Padmapani mural is one of the later murals, and is now regarded as an example of the ingenious style of that era par excellence. It shows an unprecedented attempt at realism, which was uncharacteristic of Indian painting at that time. The artist understood the use of light and shade in order to stress the importance of the protagonist. The natural pigments of green, black and red were painted onto an added surface of lime plaster. The thin, black outlines of the figure as well as the delicate treatment of the face result in a deep, emotional, overall effect. The meditational quality of Padmapani is emphasized by the fullness of his lips, the slender waist and nose, the spinous elongated eyebrow, and the lotus-shaped eyes. Although the divinity is extremely idealized, the realistic approach is conspicuous. One can infer that the crown and jewels are of secular inspiration. This mural is the perfect embodiment of the classical Guptan genre.” (SZ)

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