A Survey Of Indian Sculpture

From the Jacket: This volume is an attempt at a connected history of Indian Sculpture setting forth in clear terms the varied trends and traditions that constitute an artistic whole. The learned scholar has traced the history of Indian sculpture from the beginning to the medieval times bringing within his scope a vast field of study. Special emphasis is laid on the origin and development of the basic strains as well as the fundamental characteristics of Indian plastic art in a historical perspective. Plastic art of the subcontinent found expression in many important schools and distinctive styles. It has been the endeavour of the author to interpret the changes of form through the ages as a logical, orderly and organic evolution.

About the Author:

Professor S.K.Saraswati is an internationally known art historian of India with highly conspicuous contributions in the fields of Indian history, art and archaeology. Besides his many publications and valued collaboration in a number of scholarly schemes in the country, he has recently completed the Unesco project on the study of Buddhist Tantrayana Art, now awaiting publication in two sumptuously illustrated volumes. He is also the Editor of Cultural Heritage of India, Vol. III, Fine Arts, sponsored by the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta. Professor Saraswati has held many high and responsible position including professorships in Calcutta and Banaras Hindu Universities. For sometime he was also the Secretary and Curator of the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta. He has travelled widely in Europe, America and USSR on lecture tours by invitation. He now holds the office of the President of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta.

Contents:

       Preface
       Acknowledgement
Chapter 1
       Beginnings

Chapter 2
       Mauryan Sculpture

Chapter 3
       Post-Mauryan Sculpture
(i)    Sanchi: Stupa II. Bharhut 
(ii)   Bodhgaya
(iii)  Sanchi: Gateways of the Great Stupa
(iv)   Mathura
(v)    Orissa Cave Reliefs: Udayagiri and Khandagiri
(vi)   Yaksha and Yakshini Statues
(vii)  Western India
(viii) South India: Vengi and Gudimallam

Chapter 4
      Saka, Kushana and Andhra
(i)   Mathura
(ii)  Gandhara
(iii) Western India: Karle, Kanheri
(iv)  South India: Vengi
(v)   General Review
(vi)  Ivory-Carvings
(vii) A Survey of Indian Sculpture

Chapter 5
       Terracotta

Chapter 6
      Gupta Sculpture: Height of the Classical Trend
(i)   New Aesthetic Ideal
(ii)  Mathura and Sarnath
(iii) Madhyadesa
(iv)  Eastern India
(v)   Western India
(vi)  Deccan
(vii) Post-Gupta Trends
        1. Ganga-Yamuna Valley
        2. Eastern India
        3. Central India
        4. Western India
        5. Deccan
        6. Tamil Land
(viii) Terracotta

Chapter 7
       Mediaeval Sculpture
(i)    Prologue
(ii)   Eastern India
(iii)  Ganga-Yamuna Valley
(iv)   Central India
(v)    Western India
(vi)   Punjab, Western Himalayas and Kashmir
(vii)  Deccan
(viii) South India
(ix)   Summing up

Select Bibliography
Index
List of Illustration
Plates