Kandyan period frescoes

Kandyan era frescoes are mural paintings created during the Kingdom of Kandy (1469–1815) in Sri Lanka, a time when kings gave a special place to arts and literature.

As there was a political instability in Sri Lanka after the Anuradhapura Era, which lasted more than 500 years, kings didn't take much effort to build up the religious side of the people.

Therefore, at the beginning of Kandyan Kingdom, the monks got Upasampada, and started to preach Buddhism to people.

The frescoes were drawn after dividing the wall of the image house into horizontal rows.

Or else it was made by mixing limestone with milk of CLUSIACEAE, mercury, white lead, Seenakkaran, and Salt.

Black color was made by mixing charcoal of coconut shells with Dorana Oil.

Jataka Stories and Episodes of the Lord Buddha's Life have been the major themes of Kandyan Frescoes.

Other than them, Suvisi Vivarana or Bodhisattva Gautama getting blessings from 24 Previous Buddhas, Bodhisattva Gautama in Thusitha Heaven, first council of Arahaths, Atamasthana (8 famous Buddhist Religious Places), Solosmasthana (16 famous Stupa and Buddhist Religious Places), Other Bodhisattva, Thousand Buddhas, and History of Sri Lanka and of the Buddhism of Sri Lanka (e.g.: War of Elara and Dutugamunu) have been themed.

Actually the religious rise-up made the artists to draw mostly Buddhism Related Frescoes.

But with the start of Portuguese, Dutch, and British Eras, the European Arts influenced the Kandyan Frescoes.

The simpler, less sophisticated drawings with thicker lines are often work of 'Provincial Schools' maintained by regional leaders and villagers.

"One day, Devaragampola Silvath Thana, the chief artist who worked in Dambulla Renovations was on the scaffolding, painting.

Not able to go out to split out wad of betel he was chewing as he worked, he called out his henchman and handed it down to be thrown away.

Then that person threw it out and came back, asked from the artist 'How long have you been up there to have chewed such a lot of betel?'.

It is told that the artist is the only person who could ever bear the king's crown in Nethra Mangalya.There are no recognizable action has taken to conserve these Kandyan Frescoes other than in the temples where department of archaeology has stepped in.

It seems that renovation, new construction and over painting, rather than conservation and preservation were the Sri Lankan Tradition.

The present day paintings at Dambulla Temple, have been done over about 2000 year old frescoes of Anuradhapura Era, in the 18th century.