The correct option is
2 only
Explanation
The Ajanta Caves, located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, represent the pinnacle of ancient Indian mural painting. These rock-cut caves are primarily Buddhist monuments, with paintings executed chiefly during the Gupta and Vakataka periods (though some date earlier).
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The paintings at Ajanta do not exclusively depict the daily life of kings, nor do they avoid religious themes. On the contrary, the dominant theme is religious. The murals primarily illustrate the life of Gautama Buddha and the Jataka tales (stories of the Buddha's previous births). While the paintings do portray scenes of court life, street scenes, and domestic activities to provide context, the core subject matter is deeply rooted in Buddhist theology and narrative.
Statement 2 is Correct: The artists at Ajanta demonstrated advanced technical skills, particularly in the use of shading and color gradation. They utilized varying tones of color to model the figures, creating a sense of volume, depth, and roundness. This technique imparted a three-dimensional quality (plasticity) to the images, distinguishing them from flat, two-dimensional representations.
Key Takeaway: Ajanta paintings are primarily Buddhist in nature, focusing on Jataka stories, and are artistically renowned for the use of shading to create three-dimensional, lifelike figures.