A Brief History of Indian Art

Author: Crewe
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Throughout Indian history, the masses living in rural areas "did not worship the gods of priestly theology, but the local spirits (yakshas and nagas) and the goddesses and mother goddesses of fertility" (Kumāraswami). Since ancient times, this fertile land has strongly nurtured and flourished art. In fact, without this solid and vibrant foundation, the delicate and complex idols of Hinduism would never have been imagined or created. India is one of the cradles of world civilization, and its artistic achievements are not only unique in the world but also have had a profound influence on countries in Asia. This book is a popular introduction to the basics of Indian art, providing a concise and systematic overview of the history of Indian architecture, sculpture, and painting over four thousand years, from the Harappan culture to the Mughal Empire. It covers religious art of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, as well as court art and folk art, and is accompanied by two hundred illustrations.