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Gupta Sculpture

This article deals with topic titled ‘Gupta Sculpture .’ This is part of our series on ‘Culture’ . For more articles , you can click here

Introduction

Art and architecture becomes complex. The earlier designs displaying simple pleasures of life gave way to contemplative & spiritual vision.
Many art historians prefer to call Gupta period Art as Religious Art.
- Utilitarian during Harappan Civilisation to
- Court Art during Maurayan Period
- Religious Art during Gupta Period.
Large scale temple construction took place.
For the first time , a clear & distinctive development between Sculpture, Architecture & Painting can be seen.
Major centres of Gupta art were
- Sarnath
- Mathura
- Nalanda

Sheshnag Vishnu	– Sheshnaag Vishnu at Deogarh is important specimen of sculpture during Gupta Period – Headgear, ornamentation of Vishnu are important to notice
Sculpture on Lintel	– Lintel has detailed artistic sculpture on it – Geometric precision is noticeable.

Already explained in other article. Refer here

Great Boar (Varaha) at the entrance of Udayagiri Cave
Here at entrance of one of the Cave, particularly powerful relief shows Vishnu in his boar incarnation rescuing the earth from waters

In the Udayagiri caves of Vidisha , Mukhalinga belonging to Gupta rule is also present

Includes small figurines and plaques found at many places including Kaushambi, Rajghat, Bhita and Mathura
These represent animals , ordinary people and gods & goddesses such as Durga, Kartikeya & Surya .
Among the remarkable pieces of monumental terracotta sculpture are almost life size images of the goddesses Ganga and Yamuna found at Ahichchhatra . Such images were placed in temple niches

Used Lost Wax Technique (aka Cire Perdue Method)
Copper and Bronze images of Buddha found at many places especially Nalanda (Bihar)
2.3 m high Copper-Bronze Buddha image from Sultanganj (refer next article)
Mehrauli Iron Pillar – Very interesting because first such thing & it hasn’t rusted yet.