HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 272: Model Answer

Question: Discuss the Sculptural art of India. (8 marks/120 words)

Answer.

The human and animal figurines as well as the religious sculptures found during the different periods in the region shows that sculptural art has played a significant part in documenting the social, political and economic life of their era.

The Sculptural art in India during the different periods in the region are as follows:

Indus Valley Civilization Sculpture

Indus sculpture is most famous for its figurative bronze known as The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro.

Mauryan Sculpture: Pillars of Ashoka

The story of monumental stone sculpture begins with the Maurya Dynasty, when sculptors first started to carve illustrative scenes from India’s three main religions – Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

The most famous lion-capital – consisting of four lions, and known simply as the “Ashoka Column” – is located at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.

Kushan Empire Sculpture

The Gandhara school was noted for its Greco-Roman style of Buddhist sculpture and the Mathuran standing Buddha – derived from the earlier yaksa figures.

Hindu Sculpture of the Gupta Empire

The Gupta style of sculpture remained relatively uniform across the empire. It incorporated the earlier figurative styles practiced in Gandhara and Mathura, but introduced new and more sophisticated forms and motifs. It is marked in particular by sensuous modelling of bodies and faces, harmonious proportions and more subtle expressions. The most innovative and influential artistic centres included Sarnath and Mathura.

Pallava and Pandya Sculpture from South India

The Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, which was famous for being the site of the carved-stone cliff created by Pallava kings in the 7th century. The Pallava era is significant for marking the transition from rock-cut architecture to stone temples. Its best-known achievements include the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram (685-705) noted for its huge pillars ornamented with multi-directional carvings of lions, and the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram (7th century).The Pandyas were famous for their rock-cut architecture and sculpture. The famous artform is the granite statue of a Seated four-armed Vishnu (770-820).

Ellora Caves

The famous sculpture of Ravana attempting to lift Mount Kailasa.

Pala Buddhist Art

The Pala school of sculpture is seen as a distinct phase of Indian art, created by the artistic ingenuity of Bengal sculptors across the region. It is noted chiefly for its bronze Buddhist statues and figurines, created by the lost-wax process and involving an alloy of up to eight metals.

Chandela Stone Sculpture in Central India

Chandela culture is best-known for the nagara-style architecture and erotic stone sculpture at the temples of Khajuraho – now a UNESCO world heritage site.

Chola Bronze Sculpture of South India

Chola art is best-known for its temple bronze sculpture of Hindu gods and goddesses, many of which were designed to be carried in local processions during temple festivals. Cast using the lost-wax method, Chola bronzes were admired for their sensuous figures as well as the detail of their clothing and jewellery.