Question

Which painting is made from the Fresco style?
A. Bhimbetka
B. Piklikhai
C. Ajanta
D. Ellora

Answer 1

Hint: Fresco Style painting is a method of painting water-based pigments on freshly applied plaster, generally on wall surfaces. A majestic gem of art and worship is tucked away in the hills of Northwest India, about 200 miles from the bustling streets of Mumbai.

Complete answer:
I. Cut into the face of a cliff, the caves form a horseshoe pattern around the River Wangorah. They are an instance of one of India's unusual architectural traditions, referred to as rock-cut temples. Ajanta is made up of thirty caves, each dedicated to the life of Buddha.
II.As among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, the Ajanta cave paintings, and rock-cut sculptures are mentioned as particularly expressive paintings that present emotion through gesture, pose, and shape.

III. The painting techniques at Ajanta are similar to the European fresco technique. The primary difference is that the plaster covering was dried before it was finished.
IV. With this raw cave walls were pushed onto a rough mortar of mud, cow dung, and rice husks. This was then painted to flat the working surface of the lime paste. The dark outlines of the characters, followed by a pallet of just six colors were then applied. Natural materials were used for the pigments used by the artists: red and yellow ochre, crushed green malachite, blue lapis lazuli, etc.

The caves of Ajanta are engulfed by night. In reality, for the experience at Ajanta, this lack of light is crucial; requiring the time of the spectator while intensifying a sense of the unexplained. In the past, faint artificial illumination provided by oil lamps may have operated. Even now, however, the bulk of the caves are almost entirely black and the caves remain in their original condition without the aid of artificial lighting.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: At Ajanta, the art practices are similar to the European fresco technique. The main distinction is that when it was painted, the coating of the plaster was dry. Next, the raw cave walls were pushed on to a rough mortar of mud, cow dung, and rice husks.