Bagh paintings: Identification and Interpretation

About the Book:

Buddhist art in India which flourished from the time of King Ashoka (3rd century B.C.) to that of the Pala dynasty (A.D. 13th century) is devoted to monumental and sculptural art. Fresco painting is a salient feature of this period, particularly during the reign of the Guptas.

While the frescoes at Ajanta are a favourite subject of art critics and historians, those at Bagh in Central India seem to have been overlooked. Very few scholars worked on the Bagh frescoes which are now almost destroyed.

Dr. Meena Talim has attempted to collect all slender strings of information about the paintings and bring forth a clear and complete picture of the Bagh frescoes. Her approach is guided by the belief that Buddhist art cannot be truly evaluated without the help of Buddhist texts.

About the Author:

Dr. Meena Talim is a retired Professor and Head of the Departments of Ancient Indian Culture, and Pali at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. At present she is working as an Honorary Professor at K. J. Somaiya Centre for Buddhist Studies, vidyavihar, Mumbai. She is a research guide for postgraduate studies of the University of Mumbai in both the subjects.

Her two books-Buddhavamsa and Woman in Early Buddhist Literature have been published by the University of Mumbai. She has presented several research papers and contributed to various national and international seminars.