________________
428
Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
crown prince Malladinna who had constructed it in his house-garden (pramadah-vana). It had scenes of sṛngararasa (erotics). We have another example of private picture gallery in the Bṛhatkalpabhāṣya (II, 5.262). It was maintained by a clever courtesan who was wellversed in sixty four arts. She had in her gallery portraits of all classes of men occupied in the professions of their respective castes and in varying moods. This assisted her in the treatment of her clients whom she would first send to the gallery and judging from their reactions their caste, character and taste for arts, would deal with them accordingly. The Parasistaparva of Hemacandrasuri gives another example of a picture gallery maintained by a courtesan called Kośã, which had paintings on erotics.
Jain Education International
etc. It was built in the garden of a rich merchant named Nanda Muniyara. It is evident that the gardens were mostly preferred for building picture galleries.
The Tiloyapanṇatti (3.57-61-c. 5th century A.D.) refers to various kinds of palaces of Bhavanväsi-devas, one of them being citra-gṛha. The Vişnudharmottara (iii, 43.12-14) mentions that paintings in palaces should exhibit scenes of erotics, humorous or peaceful sentiments while citraśālās should represent any of the nine rasas.
The accounts of picture galleries makes it clear that the painters had their guilds (cittagara-senim). They were mostly patronized by the kings and rich people. However, literature never refers to the court painters. Painters were asked to paint for which they were honoured and paid lavishly (pritidāna). However, there are evidences that the artists were also in the service of the kings throughout the year. The painters had their family tradition for learning the art of painting. In literature the meaning of the terms related with the work of a painter is explained, for example, thus: Bhasathe figure drawn in right proportion; Vibhāṣa - when the various limbs of the figure are defined, and Värttä when the eyes are painted.
The Jñātādharmakatha (13.14-15) gives an example of a public picture gallery which functioned in a manner of present day museum, where people assembled for recreation and discussion. There were arrangements of sitting for various groups of professionals like dancers, actors, picture-story tellers etc. who were permanent employer of the gallery. The gallery, along with paintings, had various other artefacts in stone, wood, metal, clay
*
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
