National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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Serindia : vol.2 |
Sec. ii] LIST OF PAINTINGS, TEXTILES yellow covering upper arm ; lower arm wrapped in crimson drapery, prob. sleeve of under-robe. White frills, prob. end of green robe, stand out round elbow. Jewellery comprises only heavy necklace and bracelet, both yellow outlined with red. Small red flowers scattered in background. Painting much dimmed and discoloured, especially down broken side. For standing figs. of Avalok. enumerated, cf. *Ch. oo88 ; also above, p. 867. 2' I I. X (average) I' 5'. Ch. xlix. 005. Painted silk banner ; upper end of painting and all accessories lost ; remainder in fair condition. Subject : Scenes from Life of Buddha. Chinese in style. Scene I. Life of Prince Gautama in Seraglio. In background, on dais within verandahed building, Gautama with Yagodharâ; in foreground dancing-woman performs while two attendants kneel on a mat to L., and on another to R. three musicians play on clappers, pipe, and lute. (For musical instruments, cf. Miss Schlesinger's note, App. H.) Scene 2. Flight of Prince. Bounded back and front by section of Palace courtyard wall. In space between, two-storied pavilion from walls of which rises cloud. On this Prince and his horse are carried through mid-air, Kanthaka's hooves supported on hands of knéeling divinities. Latter wear coats of scale-armour over long robes and have bare heads with top-knots and tiaras. Chandaka not represented. Escape takes place in front of one guard asleep, and behind back of another who looks out over wall. Strong gate-tower of kind seen in Ch. xlvi. 007 ; Iv. ooI 1, 0016, shown with what looks a closed portcullis ; outside it stands captain inspecting three members of guard, who salute with R. hand to head. Colouring now very dim, but at best was monotonous, consisting only of dull crimson, green, yellow, and slate-blue. Buildings and dress purely Chinese as in Ch. 0039 and Iv. 009 series. Prince, Yaiodharâ, the dancing-girl, and attendants in scene (I) wear long wide-sleeved jackets and under-robes, or skirts, found in these series ; and the musicians, belted coats and black-tailed caps. Attendants and Prince wear high sq. caps, apparently orig. pink or red ; and Yaiodharâ and dancing-girl have their hair done high 'above fillet (or comb) in long top-knot forming a sort of four-pointed crest, while their cheeks are painted red. Girl's dancing appears to consist only of movements of arms; cf. the Paradise pictures. Walls painted red and white in horizontal stripes representing stamped clay layers, and have battlements. Most noteworthy point in dress is scale-armour of guard, which consists of close-fitting helmet and gorget joining on to long close coat. This coat is girt under arms and round waist, has sleeves to wrists, and descends to feet. In one instance lower part takes the form of trousers ; in others it is obviously a skirt. They carry lances with pennons, and have spikes on top of their helmets. This is the only instance in which the guard are represented in armour, and, the majority of them, awake. Kanthaka as usual is white with red mane and tail. Workmanship and composition more primitive than in Ch. lv. 009 series, and expression of movement comparatively | , ETC., FROM CHIEN-FO-TUNG 1051 poor. Perspective tends to become bird's-eye. A yellow cartouche (blank) for inscr. placed at side of each scene. For other representations of Flight, see Ch. xlvi. 007 and lv. oo1I. Life in Palace not elsewhere represented. I' q-i" xq". Ch. xlix. 006. Painted silk banner with Chin. inscr. Much broken ; all accessories and large parts of painting lost. Remainder fresh and well preserved ; pairs with Ch. lv. 0016. Subject : Scenes from Life of Buddha. Chinese in style; parts of three only preserved. Banner bordered on each side by painted band of red and orange orn. with blue and green quatrefoil rosettes ; and divided transversely into three panels by similar bands of green and lilac. Cartouche with inscr. placed on R. and L. sides respectively of scenes (z) and (3). Scene I. Buddha seated on large scarlet lotus, with legs crossed ; R. hand open on knee, L. raised in attitude of protection. Dress : crimson under-robe with light blue lining, covering legs and R. shoulder and arm ; brown mantle lined with light green covers L. shoulder and arm. Face sq. and finely drawn, with arched black brows, level eyes, broad nose, and small down-turned mouth ; flesh yellowish, shaded with pink. Traces of yellow-green halo behind. No inscr. or cartouche. Scene 2. Gautama Buddha as child discoursing on his anterior lives to civil and military officers. Identified by inscr. on R. side of scene (Mr. A. D. Waley). The child Buddha sits on a verandah of the Palace, holding out his arms and evidently reciting his tale. Two men stand behind him outside verandah, two others on other side of scene. One of latter, in orange belted coat and tailed black cap, kneels on verandah before him holding a roll of paper in his hand; the other stands on ground below, a roll also in his arms. The latter personage is bearded and dressed as the Minister in Ch. 00114, apparently representing civilian dignitary. The other two are not completely preserved, but the nearer to Prince in this case, too, is prob. a servant. He wears crimson belted coat and tailed black cap, and carries in his arms a barrel (?) filled with small round objects, now hardly distinguishable. The other, of whom still less remains, has a tall round black cap figured over in grey (or silver ?) tracery, a brown mantle, and white under-robe with green sleeve ; he stands erect and grasps what seems from gesture to be hilt of sword. Prince wears bright blue under-robe (paint mostly lost) and pink jacket, and has a white lotus orn. on top of head. He is without halo. Scene 3. Archery Contest, shooting at the Drums. Of inscr. only three chars. remain, and of painting only wing of Palace and row of circular black drums ranged on long wooden stand. Buildings in both scenes are in design and colour like those of Ch. 0039 and Iv. 009 series ; neither scene elsewhere represented amongst paintings of Collection. Workmanship is very delicate throughout ; drawing fine and clear in the smallest details, colouring gay but not crude, and carefully applied. 1' 5" x 6r. Thousand Buddhas, Pl. XII. 6s2 | |||||||
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