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Oil painting 'originated in East' | Oil painting 'originated in East' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Painting with oils was taking place in what is now Afghanistan centuries before such techniques were known to Europeans, researchers say. | Painting with oils was taking place in what is now Afghanistan centuries before such techniques were known to Europeans, researchers say. |
French-based scientists have been investigating cave paintings at the ancient complex of Bamiyan. | French-based scientists have been investigating cave paintings at the ancient complex of Bamiyan. |
Until 2001 two vast 6th-Century Buddhas stood at Bamiyan. Then they were blown up by Afghanistan's then-Taleban government as un-Islamic. | |
Behind the Buddhas was a network of caves in which monks lived and prayed. | Behind the Buddhas was a network of caves in which monks lived and prayed. |
Now a team from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble has painstakingly analysed the ancient paintings in those caves. | Now a team from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble has painstakingly analysed the ancient paintings in those caves. |
They say that in 12 caves 7th-Century wall-paintings were created using oil paint, derived possibly from walnuts or the poppies which grew in the area. | They say that in 12 caves 7th-Century wall-paintings were created using oil paint, derived possibly from walnuts or the poppies which grew in the area. |
It is believed oil painting in Europe began only some six centuries after this. The findings suggest these may be the oldest known examples anywhere of painting with oil. | It is believed oil painting in Europe began only some six centuries after this. The findings suggest these may be the oldest known examples anywhere of painting with oil. |
Lessons from Bamiyan | Lessons from Bamiyan |
The wall-paintings were devotional art showing the Buddha, often in colourful robes. | The wall-paintings were devotional art showing the Buddha, often in colourful robes. |
Probably the work was carried out by itinerant artists travelling the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the West. | Probably the work was carried out by itinerant artists travelling the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the West. |
There are plans to reconstitute the Bamiyan Buddhas - work which everyone acknowledges would be tremendously difficult. | There are plans to reconstitute the Bamiyan Buddhas - work which everyone acknowledges would be tremendously difficult. |
But even without their presence, Bamiyan has much to tell the world about an era of art which is still little understood. | But even without their presence, Bamiyan has much to tell the world about an era of art which is still little understood. |
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