Science and Art of Calligraphy and Painting

Author(s): S Andhare
Publisher: Indian National Science Academy

Page 98

62
their colour to vegetable or insect dyestuff. It has been found out that majority of colours used in Western Indian or Rajasthani painting are derived from minerals or natural salts. These minerals are often found in the visinity, in the form of stones which are pulverised to fine dust before use. Impurities from these natural stones are removed by a process of levigation. Natural pigments invariably contain sand and humus, for which the earth (mud) is dissolved in water, sand deposits at the bottom and the peat and the mould tend to float which are skimmed off. But, before the earth settles down, water in quickly drained off in another container. This process is repeated several times till the colour is cleared of all impurities. It is then dried in the sun and taken for use. A somewhat similar method is given in Silparatna "After the yellow ochre and wood have been brought from the river beds and the hills, they should be washed in pure water, pulverised and then reduced to fine powder. This dust is then disolved in a container full with water and allowed to settle for a short time.By this process colour will float over water and the dirt will settle down. This process is repeated several times till colour paste attains purity. The paste is then besmeased on a raw earthen pot and allowed to day."
Black, white and red colours were widely used in Western Indian manuscripts, and there is enough information 10. Moti Chandra : ob-cit p. 76