Later Buddhist Art
Artist: unknown
Title: Ajanta, Cave 1, left of interior antechamber entrance, attendent
to Vajrapani Bodhisattva, detail.
Material: polychrome mural using primarily mineral pigments on clay base
Site: Ajanta, Maharastra, India
Current Location: Ajanta, Maharastra, India
Period/Date: 5th century C.E.
Iconography/Iconology: Vajrapani's attendent and devotee further characterizes
his nature as a prince. Such individuals apparently were commonplace in
the Indian courts, where the royalty would be waited on by numerous servants
and members of the nobility.
Stylistic Comments: Although little known in early Indian painting, this
figure shows the use of shading with highlights on the nose and brows.
