Early Classical Art of South Asia, Vols. I and II

Contents: Vol. I: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Early historic South Asia. 3. History and chronology of Gupta. 4. Appreciation of early South Asian art. 5. Art of Kusana--Gupta transition. 6. Origin of early South Asian art. 7. Classical art of Gupta Age (c. 319-578 A.D.). 8. Gupta classical art of Mathura. 9. Gupta Art History (319-578 A.D.). 10. Gupta art from Kausambi.
 
Vol. II: Preface. 11. Buddhist metal images of Gupta-Vakataka period. 12. Bronzes from Phophnar and Ramtek. 13. Rare Gupta metal art. 14. Delhi Iron Pillar of Gupta Age. 15. Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription. 16. History of Mehrauli Pillar. 17. Chandragupta II and Mehrauli Iron Pillar. 18. Mehrauli Iron Pillar. 19. Some metal images from Nalanda. 20. Gupta Terracotta sealing. 21. Gupta Chauri-bearers. 22. The Brahma image from Mirpur Khas. 23. Gupta period, pottery designs from Ahichchatra. 24. Kumargupta I inscription from Kausambi. 25. Early Buddhist classical images from Nepal (3-7 Century A.D.). 26. Excavation at Mansar. 27. Gupta-Vakataka Site--Mansar and Sirpur. 28. Excavation at Sirpur. 29. Gupta art from Nachna Kuthara and Khoh. 30. The Brihatkathaslokas--Samgraha on Maritime activities in the Gupta Age. 31. Gupta architecture of Mathura. 32. Dinna--a Gupta artist from Mathura. 33. Terracotta of Anantasayi Visnu from Bhitargaon. 34. Mask as an ancient structural motif in Indian art. 35. The aesthetic and technical style of Gupta Age. 36. Sakta-Tantrism in the Gupta Age. 37. Late Gupta Temple at Behati. 38. Late Gupta stone image of Yajna Varaha in Eran. 39. Classical Vakataka images of Vidarbha. Appendix. Bibliography. Index.

"The present volume \'Early Classical Art of South Asia\' is edited by Prof. M.C. Joshi and Dr. D.P. Sharma. The period of Gupta Dynasty begins around 319 A.D. ends up to 578 A.D. The art of Gupta period has often been referred to as the classical art of early South Asia. The art of Gupta period was characterized by a sensitivity modeled body from a severity of expansion and dominant spiritual purpose.

During Gupta Age there was all-round development particularly in fine arts-literature both religious and non religious, sculpture, painting, music, dance, drama, \'Kalidasa\'s literary metaphors, lyrics and norms of beauty are found translated in art as much as the softness and suppleness of limbs of sculpture are found translated in painting.

The three stages of Gupta arts like Kaushambi, Mathura, and Sarnath represent three variations in refinement. Kaushambi represents transitional stage (319-375 A.D.) of Kusana-Gupta Art, Mathura style is the early phase of Gupta Art and Sarnath Style shows more developmental stage of later part of Gupta Art. The book covers art of Gupta Age (319-578 A.D.). Prof. M.C. Joshi wrote introduction and contributed six papers in this volume. This book contains 39 papers of eminent art historians and archaeologists. The important papers are of Prof. G.C. Pande, R.C. Sharma, D.P. Sharma, Madhuri Sharma, A.P. Jamkhekar, Prof. Krishna Deva, Prof. R. Balasubramaniam, J.P. Joshi, B.C. Shukla, A.K. Sharma, V.S. Agarwal, U.N. Rai. The editors are of the opinion that Mathura Art represents earlier stage and Sarnath Art is the developed stage of Gupta Art. The editors concluded that Vakataka metal images have their origin in late Amaravati School. Buddhist metal images of Ceylon as have their origin in late Amaravati School." (jacket)