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Indian Art 2
320- 1400 ACE
Classical Period –Gupta Empire 320-550AD
Outpouring of science, literature,
music and the visual arts
 It established the iconography of
Hindu and Buddhist divinities.
A more unified style:
 Buddah is now depicted in human
form , very serene, with eyes cast
down, averted from the world as if
in meditation
 Cloth very close to the body
 Open hand gesture-dharma chakra
mudra
 …Hinduism is on the rise
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Sandstone statue of preaching
Buddha, fifth century ad.
Archaeoiogicai Museum, Sarnath.
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Represents the
god Shiva, and
Vishnu, instead
of Buddha
•Relief showing Vishnu . Vishnu Temple.
•The thick and animated
network of figures on a
variety of levels,and the
luminosity and sensuality
of the high-relief
sculpture are very
striking.
Hinduism
Vishnu
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Lord Vishnu represents the aspect of
the Supreme Reality that preserves and
sustains the universe
He is generally symbolized by a human
body with four arms. In His hands He
carries a conch (indicates that the Lord
communicates with his devotees with
love and understanding ), a mace
(denotes his energy ), and discus (he uses
this weapon to protect his devotees from
evil. ) His front right hand is depicted
bestowing grace on His devotees. .
He has a blue body and wears yellow
clothes. The Lord is shown standing on a
thousand-headed snake (named Shesha
Nag), and the snake stands with its hoods
open over the head of the Lord.
The two front arms signify the lord's
activity in the physical world and the two
back arms signify His activity in the
spiritual world
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Brahma is the Hindu god of
creation and one of the Trimurti,
Brahma is self-born (without
mother) in the lotus flower which
grew from the navel of Vishnu at
the beginning of the universe.
Another legend says that Brahma
was born in water. In this he
deposited a seed that later became
the golden egg. From this golden
egg, Brahma the creator was born.
The remaining materials of this
golden egg expanded into the
Brahm-anda or Universe.
Brahma is said also to be the son
of the Supreme Being, Brahman
and the female energy known as
Prakrti or Maya.
Brahma
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Shiva is called the Destroyer
(of evil), but has also the
aspect of regeneration. As
destroyer he is dark and
terrible, .accompanied by a
train of hideous demons,
encircled with serpents and
necklaces. He is also shown
with reproductive power, he
is worshipped in the form of
the shivling or shiva linga
(lingam).
The dance of Shiva is
symbolic of the dynamic
forces of creation and
destruction, and the
harmonious balance of
opposites.
Most images of the dancing
Shiva depict him with four
arms, which represent the
four cardinal directions of
Shiva
India (1000-1400)
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In Europe- the
Middle Ages
(dominance of the
church), time of the
crusades.
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India-strong and expanding
(Buddhist and Hindu)
Cult of Siva dominant (Siva
Nataraja Lord of the Dance- spoke
of creation and destruction)
Temples are shaped to represent
the mountain residence of Siva
Temples are lavishly decorated,
strict rules of symbolism
Detailed, often erotic figures
decorated temple
The Muslims would gain control of
northern India at the end of the
century and not allow the icon
symbolism
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This bronze sculpture, entitled
Shiva as Nataraja (Lord
of the Dance) (about AD
1000), is one of a number of
sculptures of the Hindu god
Shiva made during India’s
Chola dynasty (10th century to
13th century). The sculpture
shows Shiva dancing within a
circle of fire. One of the god’s
hands holds a flame, while the
other beats on a drum. His
foot rests on the demon of
ignorance.
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Ganesha, son of Shiva,
Hoysala Sculpture- 13th
century
Soft soapstone
Ganesha is worshipped
as the lord of
beginnings and as the
lord of obstacles
(Vighnesha), patron
of arts and sciences,
and the god of intellect
and wisdom.
Architecture 1000-1100
Name: Kandariya Mahadeo Temple
Place: Khajuraho
Time Period/Chronology: C.1000 A.D
•the largest and most ornate Hindu
temple in the medieval temple group
found at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh,
India. It is considered one of the best
examples of temples preserved from the
medieval period in India.
-Khajuraho extended over 21 sq. km and contained about 85 temples built by multiple
rulers from about 950 to 1050.
-its remoteness probably saved it from the desecration that Muslim conquerors generally
inflicted on Hindu monuments. They were rediscovered in 1838
-Of the 85 original temples—most constructed of hard river sandstone—about 20 are
still reasonably well preserved. Both internally and externally the temples are richly
carved with excellent sculptures that are frequently sensual and, at times, sexually
explicit.
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The main spire or
shikhara rises 31 m to
depict Mount Meru,
the holy mountain of
Shiva and is
surrounded by 84
miniature spires
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Decorating the sides
of the temple are
over 646 statues
Many of the side panels
depict Shiva in the
presence of apsaras,
consorts, and other
divinities. These erotic
figures do not span the
whole temple and are
not to be found among
the 226 found inside
Meanwhile over in the West-1000-1100
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Europe-Basically a climate of political stability and
economic expansion in the west due to national
monarchies
…STILL….
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On 15 July 1099, the armies of the
First Crusade captured Jerusalem and
massacred its defenders to claim the
city for Christianity
88 years later, Saladin, the charismatic
leader of the Muslim Near East,
retook the holy city for Islam.
Within three years, Richard the
Lionheart was leading the Third
Crusade. Yet, despite winning several
battles, he failed to take Jerusalem.
INDIA AND ISLAM
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Islam is expanding
India’s warring rulers left the door open for the
Islam religion to spread to Northern India
Taking of Delhi on 1192- Muslim domination in
Northern India would remain for centuries (founding
of the Delhi Sultanate in 1193)
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Hinduism still strong in Southern India
It took a century and a half to take over India as
it retreated southward.
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Northern
The exotic art of Hindu and
Muslim/Indian Art
Buddhist India was considered
Icons by the Muslim conquerors,
many temples were destroyed
The Mosque of Islam at Delhi
was supplied by stones taken from
Hindu shrines
Dominant feature is the Qutb
Minar a great minaret begun in
1199 and conceived as a tower of
victory
Inscriptions from the Koran,
decoration traditional Indian
inspiration
India (1100-1200)
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N. India splits due to wars, facilitated Muslim
expansion-Muhammad Ghuri founder of Muslim
power
Religious freedom was basically allowed, they did not
impose their religion on the Hindu minority
Sculpture, and some temples, destroyed due to imagery
Still Southern India remained until the 14th centuryTamil empire of Hindu Cholas
Architecture rich in detail- sculpture more important
than architecture
Building very modest in scale
Kesava Temple at Somnathpur
Location South West Of Bangalore,
Karnataka
Consecrated In: 1268 A.D, Hoysala
craftsmanship.
Dedicated To: Lord Keshava
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Keshava (Krishna) temple was built in 1268 by the Hoysala
general Somanatha, during the reign of king Narasimha III.
This gem of a building is the last, and best-preserved, of the
major Hoysala temples. The entrance (East-facing) to the
temple is framed by lathe-turned columns.
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Krishna, surrounded by
attendants, plays the flute
beneath a tree. His dress
and crown are richly
ornamented. The typically
rococo (ornate and
intricate) manner of such
sculptures makes the
Hoysala one of the easiest
styles to recognize in
Indian art.
India (1200-1300)
As Muslim advances into India Hindu and
Buddhist artistic traditions were on the decline
 Images were broken due to the erotic art of the
Hindu religion
 Surya Temple SW of Calcutta escaped their
attention
Meanwhile in the west…
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Mongol invasion, of vast areas of Asia and
some of Europe
It is believed, they brought wares from China
but also the bubonic plague
We know it as the BLACK DEATH or
BLACK PLAGUE or THE BUBONIC
PLAGUE (1/3 of Europe was wiped out)
Ottoman Turks-14th century- (from Antolia)
brought down Constantinople-advance stopped
in Samarkand (Tamerlane)
Muslims still have a small part of Spain in
Granada
Surya Temple-Temple of the Sun-during the reigh of
Narasimhadeva 1238-64 -representation of the chariot of
the sun-god Surya
It was conceived as the chariot of the sun god, Surya,
carried upon twelve pairs of wheels representing the
months, and drawn by seven horses representing the days
of the week
Included seven sculptured horses of the god myth to draw it
One of the horses that draw the Sun's chariot
Source:http://www.cmp.caltech.edu/~mcc/India/PictureShow/Puri.html
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A wheel of the Sun's chariot
A wheel of the Sun's chariot – the body of the temple was carried by 12
great wheels
Wall detail of the temple – Above the wheels erotic paired-off sculptures which
have made the Temple notorious
The king, on an elephant, being presented with a giraffe sent by an African king
Surya Deva himself, with his
charioteer and horses below
his feet
India 1300-1400
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Mostly under Islamic reign, so we will cover the
art under Islamic art latter on in the semester