King Bimbisāra, Queen, and Attendants seated within a palace pavilion (from the story of the savage elephant Nālāgiri, tamed by Buddha)

Copy by Christiana Jane Herringham (1852-1929)

1909-11

Tempera

Source: Herringham, Plate I

Lady Herringham explains that the paintings, dating from 450-650, show events in Buddha's life and previous incarnations, with perhaps the addition of "semi-mythological history," adding that "they illustrate the court life and popular life of the time, as told in the romances and plays" ("Notes on the History and Character of the Paintings," 18). She was clearly fascinated by them.

Scanned image and text by Jacqueline Banerjee.

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