Consider the following statements about Ajanta paintings : 1. The surface of the rock was coated with clay mixed with rice husk and gum and a coat of lime was applied over this. 2. The outline drawing was done first on the lime coating and colours were added subsequently. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Both 1 and 2. Both statements correctly describe how the Ajanta murals were prepared and painted.
The Ajanta caves in Maharashtra, carved between about the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE, hold the finest surviving Buddhist murals of ancient India. The painters first coated the rough rock with a layer of clay or mud mixed with rice husk, vegetable fibre and gum, and then laid a thin coat of lime plaster over it. On this smooth ground they first drew the outlines, usually in red, and then filled in the colours, taken mostly from minerals, before finishing the contours again. The themes are mainly the Jataka tales and the life of the Buddha.
A is wrong because statement 2 is also correct. B is wrong because statement 1 about the clay, husk and lime ground is also correct. D is wrong because neither statement is false.
Exam tip: Ajanta painting order: rock, then clay with rice husk and gum, then lime plaster, then outline, then colour.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following statements about the Elephanta Island is correct?
- A.It was given its name by the British after a large elephant structure located there.
- B.It contains one large cave.
- C.It is well-known for a spectacular carving of Vishnu described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana.
- D.It is associated with the Pashupata sect.
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The Elephanta caves are Shaiva rock-cut shrines, and their imagery is linked by scholars to the Pashupata order of Shiva worshippers.
Read the full explanation →The tagline 'Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India' is associated with the logo for
- A.Archaeological Survey of India
- B.India Tourism Development Corporation
- C.Geological Survey of India
- D.Geographical Indications (GI) of India
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- A.Ashoka played an important role in popularizing the Stupa cult.
- B.They were repositories of relics of Buddha and other monks.
- C.They were located in rural areas.
- D.They were located close to trade routes.
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Read the full explanation →Who was/were the 10th century composer(s) of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham?
- A.Alvars
- B.Nayanars
- C.Appar
- D.Sambandar
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Read the full explanation →Consider the following : 1. Tughlaqabad Fort 2. Bada Gumbad in Lodhi Garden 3. Qutub Minar 4. Fatehpur Sikri Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of building the above monuments?
- A.3, 1, 4, 2
- B.3, 1, 2, 4
- C.1, 3, 2, 4
- D.1, 3, 4, 2
Show answer
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