Sri Lanka has a rich and long tradition of wall paintings, starting from prehistoric times, transversing the historical period up to the present day. The wall paintings in Sri Lanka are found in monastries, temples, palaces and residences. The historic context of the Sri Lakan paintings has been studied in great detail by several authors, but little was known about the materials and techniques of execution of these important works of art. The present book is an attempt to collect and present all the known information on this vast subject. Our own researches formed the basis for this information. The Book first of all gives an account of construction of the paintings and thereafter describes the known techniques of paintings as found in the world. In one Chapter the materials and techniques of wall paintings in different sites like Sigiriya, Anuradhapur, Polanauuwa, Dambulla and other places are described. The last chapter summarizes the materials and techniques of wall paintings all over Sri Lanka and sums up the situation as at the present moment. Scientific techniques useful for analysis of wall paintings are given in Appendix.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nanda Amara Wickramasinghe
Dr. (Mrs.) Nanda Wickramasinghe is at present the Director of the Department of National Museum, Colombo. Prior to this assignment, she was the Director of Archaeology (Chemical Conservation) in the Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka, where she served for more than 23 years. During this period she had the opportunity to work for the wall paintings of Sri Lanka and gained a real insight into their techniques, materials and conservation problems. She obtained her first degree, B.Sc (Specializing in Chemistry) in 1977 from the University of Sri Lanka; M.Sc Preliminary from the University of New England, Australia 1978; Diploma in Chemiekarin (equivalent to M.Sc) from the Technical University, Berlin in 1989. She followed a sixmonth training course in conservation of cultural property India in 1979/80. She obtained her Ph.D in Archaeology in 1997 from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka. She is an Associate Member of Institute of Chemistry, a Chartered Chemist. She is one of the founder members of the Sri Lanka Council of Archaeology. She is also a member of the International Council of Bio-deterioration of Cultural Property. She serve as a visiting lecturer in Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology and two other national universities in Sri Lanka. She is also a member of the Laboratory Steering Committee of the Central Cultural Fund. She has contributed both to Sri Lankan and International Journals.
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