Mural paintings in Ellora are found in five caves, but only in the Kailasa
temple, they are somewhat preserved. The paintings were done in two
series — the first, at the time of carving the caves and the subsequent
series was done several centuries later. The earlier paintings show Vishnu
and Lakshmi borne through the clouds by Garuda, with clouds in the
background.
The sinewy figures have sharp features and pointed noses. The protruding
eye typical of the later Gujarati style appears for the first time in Ellora. In
the subsequent series, the main composition is that of a procession of
Shaiva holy men. The flying Apsaras are graceful. Very few murals in the
Jain temples are well preserved.
BAGH
The paintings of Bagh are executed in tempera. The ground prepared was
a reddish-brown gritty and thick mud plaster laid out on the walls and
ceilings. The mud plaster is not uniform in thickness but smoothes the
rock surface for the painting. Over the plaster was lime-priming on which
were executed paintings. Analyzing the technique Marshall writes, "At
Bagh, as at Ajanta, the paintings are done in Tempera, not as has been
often stated in Fresco and the process and colors employed at both places
seems to be have been the same. At Bagh, however less care has been
taken over the preparation of the first rough coat."
Terracottas and Pottery
Clay Figurines were used both for religious and secular purposes. We have
figurines of Vishnu, Kartikeya, Surya, Durga, Kubera, Nagas and other gods
and goddesses.
Gupta pottery remains found at Ahichchhatra, Rajgarh, Hastinapur and
Bashar afford an outstanding proof of the excellence of pottery. The most
distinctive class of pottery of this period is the ‘red ware’.
Gupta Literature