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Browse Items in Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting (166 total)
Queen Madri-devi worshipping her husband (Vessantarà„)
Description: This scene painted at the Madavala Vihare, shows the queen worshipping Vessantara (Vessantara Jataka, one of the former birth stories of the Buddha), holding her head straight.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha
Collection: Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting
Contrasting styles of women's attires
Description: This scene from the wall paintings of the Madavala Vihare illustrates an episode in the Uraga Jataka (one of the former birth stories of the Buddha). It is interesting to note that the ladies of the household, a Brahmin family according to the story, do not cover the upper part of their bodies when they are at home, but are fully clothed when they go out. In contrast, the maid does not cover the upper part of her body on either occasion.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha
Collection: Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting
A woman suckling her infant
Description: A popular concept of the female is in her role as mother. This is most often represented by a woman suckling her infant as seen in this 17th century A.D. wood carving at the Ambakke devalaya. The relief panel is carved on a pillar at the entrance pavilion.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha
Collection: Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting
A sharp definition of roles, King Vessantara and his queen
Description: Painted on the walls of the Degaldoruva temple is this scene from the Vessantara Jataka (one of the former birth stories of the Buddha). Seated next to each other, while Vessantara talks to state officials, the queen suckles her infant daughter, sharply defining her domestic role, away from matters of state.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha
Collection: Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting
Women in domestic service
Description: A kitchen scene with a female in action on the Arattana Vihare, petikade or painted scroll at Hanguranketa, Sri Lanka, illustrates the role of women preparing and serving food. In elite households. These functions were sometimes performed by female servants as in this instance.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha
Collection: Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting
Men and women learning at the feet of a Guru (teacher)
Description: It is however heartening to see that the Degaldoruva painter did not confine himself to illustration of women in purely domestic roles. This scene from the Sattubhatta Jataka (one of the former birth stories of the Buddha) shows and equal number of men and women listening to a learned man reading from an ola book.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha
Collection: Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting
