Apsaras Paintings

Sigiriya Rock

The lady in this closeup, who was seen with her companion on the previous page, has become the iconic image of Sigiriya, reproduced countless times in books and other publications. She presents a floral bouquet in her upraised hand, and additional flowers are visible behind the outline of her figure. Her body, with its prominent hips and bust and narrow extended waist, is rendered in a way that is typical of early Indian art. The upward curve of her smile is oddly exaggerated. The thumb and index finger of her left hand form the gesture of holding a flower's stem, although none is visible today in the painting. The same left hand is seen, on close inspection, to have six visible fingers; its supernumerary middle finger, painted darker than the rest, is a pentimento.