History of Indian Sculpture Art (Theory)

Paper Code: 
VAS(P) 221
Credits: 
2
Contact Hours: 
30.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objectives:

The course will enable the students to:

  1. Identify the most important sculptures and architectures of Indian Art
  2. List the significance of the Golden Age of Art on Indian art.
  3. Read and Analyze ancient art of India, and derive conclusions on the basis of their own understanding.
  4. Ability to interpret the Indian culture of that era in the present day context.

Course

 

Course Outcomes  

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

VAS (P) 221

 

 

History of Indian Sculpture Art

(Theory)

 

 

The students will-

CO27: Distinguish between the works of each era with respect to their style and aesthetic so they can build and hold conversations at museums, art galleries and art meetings.

 

CO28: Recognize the techniques of stone carving, metallurgy, and casting used by artists mentioned in the syllabus to predict and reflect on how sculpting tools and techniques developed in Classical India.

 

CO29:  Develop skills to place ancient art chronologically to recognize how Indian art has panned out through history and predict future changes.

 

CO30: Analyze and Evaluate the involvement of mythology and religion in the works of art to learn to incorporate Indian values, customs and diversities in their art work.

 

 

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments.

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, presentation, Giving tasks.

 

Semester end examinations, Continuous Assessment Test, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects, regular submission.

 

6.00
Unit I: 
Gupta Period
  • The Golden age of art in India,
  • Architecture and Sculptural Ornamentation of Sanchi temple no. 17
  • The Parvati Devi temple at Nachna Kuthara
  • The temple of Bhitaragaon
  • The Vishnu temple at Tigawa
  • The Shiva temple at Bhumara
  • The Dasavatara temple at Deogarh, Ajanta and Bagh Caves.

 

6.00
Unit II: 
Sculptures and cave architecture of Ajanta and Ellora
  • Historical background and Iconography  of Varaha:
    • Adivaraha or Nar- Varaha,
    • Yajnavaraha,
    • Pralayavaraha,
    • Mahavaraha,
    • Varaha in boar form
    •  Nar- Varaha from Udaigiri cave 5
    • Eran Varaha- Anthropomorphic and Theomorphic form
  • Evaluation and Iconography of Mukhalinga,
  • The uniconic form: ekmukhalinga Cave 4 Udaigiri,
  • Ekmukhalinga Bhumra
  • Ekmukha Shiva Linga, 5th Century AD, Khoh, M.P.
  • National Museum, Delhi,
  • Linga with Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, and Surya, 6th Century AD, Uttar Predesh, National Museum, Delhi.  

 

6.00
Unit III: 
Terracotta from Gupta period
  • Ganga and Yamuna from Ahichhatra
  • Mirpurkhas Seated Buddha
  • Seated and standing Buddha Mathura
  • Seated and standing Buddha Sarnath
  • Dakshinamurti Ahichhatra
  • Parvati head Ahichhatra
  • Shiva Gana destroying Dakshas Sacrifice Ahichhatra
  • Decorative brick on tile Mirpurkhas
  • Mahishasurmardini from Bhumra, M.P.

 

6.00
Unit IV: 
Study of Temple-Sculptures
  • Descent of Ganga Pallava Mahabalipuram Tamilnadu period Stone Circa 7th Century A.D.,
  • Ravana shaking Mount Kailash (Rashtrakuta Ellora, Maharashtra) Stone Circa Circa 8th Century A.D.
  • Trimurti (Elephanta, Maharashtra) Stone Circa 9th Century A.D.,
  • Lakshmi Narayana (Kandariya Mahadev Temple) (Chandela, Khajuraho, M.P.) Circa 10th Century A.D.,
  • Cymbal Player Sun Temple (Ganga Dynasty, Konark, Orissa) Stone, Circa 13th Century A.D.,
  • Mother & Child (Vimla-Shah Temple, Solanki Dynasty, Dilwara, Mount Abu, Rajasthan) White Marble Circa 13th Century A.D.

 

6.00
Unit V: 
South Indian Bronzes- Chola, Pallava and Nayaka Periods
  • Method of casting (solid and hollow)
  • Study of South Indian Bronzes
  • Types of Bronze
    • Shiva Nataraj (Thanjavur Distt., Tamilnadu) Chola period (12th Century A.D.)(Collection: National Museum, New Delhi),
    • Krishna (Tamilnadu) Chola period (12th Century A.D.)(Collection: National Museum, New Delhi)
    • Devi (Uma) Chola Period (11th Century A.D.) (Collection: National Museum, New Delhi),
    • Dancing Ganesa (Karnataka 16th Century) (Collection: LOS Angles CCU Museum of ART, Calfornia),
    • Kubera, Varuna (Karnataka C.1050) (Collection: LOS Angles CCU Museum of ART, California), Siva Nataraja, Tamil Nadu, India, C.950, South Indian Bronzes- LOS Angles CCU Museum of ART, California

 

References: 

• The Hindu temple, Volume 1 by Stella Kramrisch, Raymond Burnier
• An Introduction to Gupta Numismatics by S.R. Goyal, Kusumanjali Prakashan, Jodhpur
• Gupta Art by V.S. Agarwal
• Art of Gupta India by Joanna G. Williams
• Gupta Art by J.C. Harle
• Art and Architecture of India by Benjamin Rowland
• Indian Architecture by Percy Brown
• Indian Art, Culture and Literature by Shanti Lal Nagar
• A History of Fine Art In India & Ceylon – Vincent A Smith

Academic Year: 
2021-2022
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