Painting

Classical Thai painting was confined to temple and palace interiors and book illustrations. Murals decorated chapel interiors, usually filling all four walls from floor to ceiling. Excerpts from the Buddha’s life, scenes of Buddhist hells, tiers of gods, goddesses, spirits, saints and angels worshipping the Buddha, or scenes of contemporary Thai life were commonly depicted. Many of the murals sparkle with impious gaiety: drunkards sleep under trees, lovers embrace and dogs steal food from palace kitchens. The finest examples number among the world's greatest expressions of Buddhist art.