Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where are the other surviving examples of Gupta paintings?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: A
Concept
The Gupta period is often called the 'Golden Age' of Indian art, where mural painting reached a high degree of naturalism and spiritual expression.Explanation
Beyond the world-famous Ajanta murals, the Bagh Caves in Madhya Pradesh represent the only other significant surviving instance of Gupta-era cave painting. These nine rock-cut monuments depict secular and religious themes, including Jataka tales and Buddha's life.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Bagh cave paintings share the stylistic elegance and technical 'fresco-secco' approach of Ajanta but have suffered more from environmental degradation.
Logic 2: Ellora paintings are generally later (post-Gupta), Lomas Rishi belongs to the Mauryan period, and Nasik caves (Pandavleni) focus more on Hinayana sculpture than Gupta-style murals.