Page 3 - Jul-Sep 2017

VOl. 14 No. 2

SCULPtUre tiMeLine WHAT IS A

SCULPTURE?
Stone sculptures take us back as far as the Paleolithic era. It The art of making two- or three-
is regarded as one of the oldest forms of art that has been dimensional image especially by
practiced and mastered by many ancient societies. The durability carving on stone or wood or by
of the stone makes it easier for us to peek into their culture. casting metal or plaster is called
a sculpture.
Mohd. Sami, VIIA, Sunway School, Rampur; Gautam Sharma, VIIE, Bhavan's S.L. Public Raunak, Global Indian
School, Amritsar International School,
Chinchwad
aNCIENT PErIOd

MEdIEval PErIOd
2500 BC- Pashupati Seal from Inscriptions on
indus Valley Harappa made of archaeological excavations sandstone on the
Civilization steatite. dating back to 2nd millennium Qutub Minar
The Chauri bearer bCe from Mohenjo-daro
made of polished have recovered examples
Chunar stone.
of small-scale clay images
324 BC - Dream of Maya Devi, with the advent of the medieval
The Mauryan this is a medallion from and carved models in stone. age, sculpture making decreased
Period Bharhut. after a considerable gap, few and there was an increase in
sculptures reappeared in the
Mauryan period (326 bCe- written inscriptions on stones
185 bCe). Monumental stone like sandstone with intricately
78 ad - carved jali screens and pietra
The Kushan sculptures freestanding or a dura work. For example, the Taj
Period part of a religious structure Mahal, agra.
dominated ancient indian
These are statues of Buddha architecture. The sunga and
from the Gandhara and Kushana period witnessed MOdErN PErIOd
Mathura school respectively. the flourishing of sculptures. Gyarah Murti
4th Century sculpture in Delhi,
ad A sculpture from the Udaigiri The gupta age remains a depicting the Salt
caves depicting Varaha,
The gupta an avatar of Vishnu saving "classical" period for indian March
Period Bhumidevi. sculpture. but by the 11th
century Ce, indian sculpture
8th Century had reached the zenith in the present day, the sculptures
ad-The Palas Avalokitesvara from of its most creative stage. are generally focussed on public
and senas Bishenpur- Tandwa From then on, sculpturing figures in public areas as well as
was a form of architectural idols of deities and decorations
decoration. at religious places. For example,
gandhi’s Dandi March statue
275 ad to The Mahishasuramardini (gyarah Murti) in Delhi.
897 ad- The relief from the
Pallavas Mahisasuramardini cave,
Mahabalipuram. ACTIVITY: ANCIENT TREASURES,
11th Century Sculpture of Sala killing MODERN WEALTH
ad - The the lion to save the sage.
hoysalas This sculpture is made of
greenish-grey chlorite in hindu mythology, the Yaksha and Yakshini
schist stone. were the guards of wealth. They were sculpted
14th Century into stones at the entrance gates of temples and
ad - The Statue of Lord
Narasimha-
Vijayanagar Virupaksha Temple, palaces. at present, they feature at the entrance
Period Hampi. of the reserve bank of india. Find out the story
behind it and name the sculptor.

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