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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XV. 



himself to formulate at a Meeting of that Society ; but he did not 

 think that his position had been shaken at all by anything that had 

 been said that evening. 



He was not aware of any frescoes in India which were of the same 

 class of painting, except the frescoes at Ajanta ; and until India could 

 establish some other precedent, he thought he could claim the credit 

 for the Sinhalese themselves. Apart from that fact, he had the 

 authority of Sir Emerson Tennent for asserting that the earliest 

 historical mention of oil painting was in the Mahawansa. Tennent 

 mentioned that the Warrior King built the Euwanveli Dagaba, and 

 had frescoes painted on it in oil mixed with vermilion paint. The 

 remains of those frescoes were still to be seen at the Ruwanveli 

 Dagaba, which was built some two thousand years ago. 



The use of oil painting was only forgotten, not lost, in Ceylon. 

 At least, the method of painting in oils was there, although the skill 

 in the art was lost. If it was argued that the paintings of the present 

 day were not of the class of those they saw exhibited to-night, it 

 might be said in the same way that the Sinhalese did not build those 

 monuments of engineering they saw in the great tanks and ruins in 

 many parts of the Island, and that they were all built by Tamil, or 

 " exotic," engineers ; because they had not the same Sinhalese engineers 

 nowadays who could construct things in the same style. He asserted 

 that the art of oil painting was known to the Sinhalese, and that even 

 to this day an oil was extracted in certain parts of the Island which 

 was used for painting. The extraction of the oil was done in a very 

 primitive fashion, but the liquid as used made a very good colour. He 

 trusted that some day speculative gentlemen would make use of the 

 oil, or possibly that the Ceylon Observer would take it up {laughter). 



In conclusion, he expressed his great thanks to Mr. Bell, and hoped 

 that the good work he had begun would be continued ; and that in 

 course of time, when he went to unlooked-for places, he would find 

 still further frescoes which would release him from the impression 

 under which he was labouring in regard to the inartistic character of 

 the ancient Sinhalese as regards painting. He had much pleasure 

 in seconding the motion. 



7. His Excellency the Governor, before putting the motion, 

 said : — My lord, ladies, and gentlemen : I now invite you by hearty 

 acclamation to pass the vote of thanks to Mr. Bell which has been 

 proposed and seconded. Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Fernando have 

 evidently interpreted the feelings of this audience with the same 

 accuracy and sympathy as Mr. Bell has the " maiden meditation " of the 

 beautiful young ladies on the frescoes (laughter). [To Mr. Bell :• — 



* Mr Fernando subsequently reiterated his views in a letter to the Ceylon 

 Standard, which called forth a reply from Mr. Bell. See Appendix. — 

 Hon. Sec. 



