Abstract:
The purpose of this thesis is to study the art style in Wat Phra Ngam, Bang Dua Sub-district, Bang Pahan District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province to indicate the age of the architecture, the Buddha images and the mural paintings including the story interpretations and expressions in the paintings to answer the question who the patrons of this temple could be. The results of the study reveal that the architecture within Wat Phra Ngam that consists of an ordination hall, a stupa, a Buddha's footprint hall, a vihara, a sermon hall, and monuments in a cemetery could be built during the Rattanakosin period. Inspired by royal craftsmanship and adapted to the creativity of local artisans, it could be dated to the reign of King Rama IV or the reign of King Rama V. The mural paintings in the ordination hall were all designed at the same time and inspired by Tripitaka and Phra Pathomsombodhikatha written by Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Kromma Phra Paramanuchitchinorot. There are techniques that derived from traditional Thai paintings during the reign of King Rama III and Western style influences and techniques that were popular during the reign of King Rama IV. Moreover, names of the donors are found written on the walls, reflecting that the locals maintained their believes of merit and dedication to the religion which would lead to birth in the era of Phra Si Ariya Mettrai or meeting Nirvana. The mural paintings could be possibly dated between the reign of King Rama IV and the reign of King Rama V. The mural paintings in the Buddha's footprint hall were also inspired by Phra Pathomsombodhikatha and influenced by the styles and techniques from the artist Khrua In Khong. They could be possibly dated between the reign of King Rama IV and the reign of King Rama V. The art style of Wat Phra Ngam shows a relationship with nearby temples. The group of painters could possibly be the same group that painted at Wat Muang. The group of patrons could be high-class people, the same group of people that patronizes Wat Woranayokrangsan Chetiyabanphataram or Wat Boromwong Isarawararam