Sigiriya Damsel 02
by Weston Westmoreland
Title
Sigiriya Damsel 02
Artist
Weston Westmoreland
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Sigiriya Damsel, Central Province, Sri Lanka, 477 AD.
Detail of one of the Damsels from the 5th century mural at the palace of the king of Sri Lanka Kashyapa I at Lion Rock (Sinhagiri).
The palace was carved on top of a massive 660 ft high column of rock in the middle of the plain. Sigiriya was King Kassapa's capital for over 20 years, until his death in battle.
Sigiriya Damsels are Sri Lanka’s most iconic paintings. They are found halfway up the Lion Rock. Originally, around 500 naked ladies adorned the wall in a massive mural 450 feet long and 130 high. Only 21 of them have reached modern day.
The Sigiriya Frescoes were painted quickly on wet plaster like all frescoes, but 100 meters above ground with the artists working long hours perched on flimsy bamboo scaffolding. The frescoes that survive today are in a small indentation in the rock and occupied only a minor position in the massive tapestry that covered the rock. As a result we can sometimes make out the small errors and design modifications which tells us of the artistry but also the speed and difficulty the creation of these images entailed.
Although the frescoes are enclosed in the Anuradhapura period, the line application and style of the paintings differs from Anuradhapura and therefore the painting style in Sigiriya is considered unique. The lines are painted in a form which enhances the sense of volume of the figures. The paint has been applied in sweeping strokes, using more pressure on one side, giving the effect of a deeper color tone towards the edge.
The true identity of the ladies in these paintings is yet to be confirmed. There are different theories, but experts believe the Damsels to be Apsaras or celestial nymphs. The women are only painted from the waist up. Whatever these Damsels represent, they’re among the most amazing works of ancient art to be found anywhere in the world, and are by themselves worth the trip to Sigiriya.
Original image by Patty Ho (https://www.flickr.com/photos/patio/with/8514280694/). Further edition and enhancements by Weston Westmoreland.
More amazing images from Ancient Civilizations one copy-paste away at https://weston-westmoreland.pixels.com/collections/ancient+civilizations
Weston Westmoreland
Uploaded
July 13th, 2020
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