Lec 1 Sculptural Art of India PDF

Sculptural Art of India Pre-Historic art of the World Sculptural art of the Indus Valley Civilization - Ashutosh Sunil Patil. Asst. Professor of Archaeology MGM University, Chh. Sambhajinagar. Discussing Sculpture! Discussing Sculpture! Discussing...

Sculptural Art of India Pre-Historic art of the World Sculptural art of the Indus Valley Civilization - Ashutosh Sunil Patil. Asst. Professor of Archaeology MGM University, Chh. Sambhajinagar. Discussing Sculpture! Discussing Sculpture! Discussing Sculpture!  Pre- Historic sculptural Art of the World Types of Prehistoric Sculpture There are five important types or categories of Stone Age sculpture, as follows: (1) Ultra-Primitive Humanoid Objects (c.230,000 - 700,000 BCE) Sculpted during the Lower Paleolithic era, these primitive effigies - considered by some archeologists to be the result of natural erosion, not human artistry - include the above mentioned Venuses of Berekhat Ram and Tan-Tan. (2) Primitive Reliefs (from 23,000 BCE onwards) The ability to work safely and undisturbed in a secure cave, may account for the relatively early appearance of prehistoric relief sculptures. (3) Venus Figurines (from 40,000 BCE onwards) Sculpted predominantly during the Aurignacian and Gravettian cultures (40-20,000 BCE), these small steatopygian Venus figurines - commonly considered to have totemic or fertility significance - have been discovered throughout Europe and beyond. (4) Carvings of Anthropomorphic Figures (from 30,000 BCE onwards) Varying considerably in size, human features and therioanthropic value, these date back to the mid-Aurignacian 5) Carvings of Animal Figures (from 33,000 BCE onwards) The strangest, most exotic and most varied of all types of prehistoric sculpture, these carvings frequently have mythological or religious significance.  Pre- Historic sculptural Art The oldest known Stone Age sculpture is the "Venus of Berekhat Ram", found in the Golan Heights. It dates back to the Acheulean culture in the Lower Paleolithic. (230,000 - 700,000 BCE) A figure by the name of "Venus of Tan-Tan" was later discovered in Morocco. Both works made of volcanic rock (basalt and quartzite), these humanoid objects were created not by Homo Sapiens, but the primitive Homo Erectus. (200,000 - 500,000 BCE) Venus encompass love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity, and victory  Pre- Historic sculptural Art Primitive reliefs Painting of a Bison (c.15,000 BCE) Altamira Cave, Cantabria, Spain. Venus of Laussel (c.23,000 BCE) Located in 1911, not far from the prehistoric caves of Lascaux, this bas-relief of a naked woman, approximately 18-inches in height, is lightly coloured with red ochre. Occupying a ceremonial area of the rock shelter where it was discovered, the figure holds a bison horn in her right hand which contains 13 notches - perhaps signifying the Cave Painting in "Hall of the Bulls" number of menstrual cycles in one year. It is part of the permanent at Lascaux (c.17,000 BCE). collection of the Musee d'Aquitaine, Bordeaux.  Pre- Historic sculptural Art Venus Figurines Venus of Monpazier (c.25,000 BCE) Venuses of Hradok and Moravany (c.24,000 BCE) Found in a field in 1970, this green steatite Found in 1938 near Piestany, in Slovakia, this bone carving is Venus figurine displays the typically enlarged about 3-inches tall and resides at the Bratislava Castle buttocks, belly and vulva. It is the oldest museum. known piece of prehistoric plastic art found in France.  Pre- Historic sculptural Art Anthropomorphic Figures Lion Man of Hohlenstein Stadel (38000 BC) One of two human figures located in the caves of the Altmuhl The Shigir Idol - the oldest known wood carving (7500 BC) valley in southwestern Germany. Fragments of the Aurignacian The oldest known wood carving in the world, this Russian carving was period carving were first found in 1939 by archaeologist Robert unearthed in 1890, in the peat bog of Shigir, not far from Yekaterinburg in Wetzel, but it was only in 1997 and 1998, when the head was the Middle Urals. connected, that it was fully assembled. It is considered to be the oldest known anthropomorphic animal carving in the world.  Pre- Historic sculptural Art Anthropomorphic Figures Thinker of Cernavoda (5000 BC) Fish God of Lepenski Vir (7000 BC), Europe Hamangia-culture terracotta sculpture, discovered in 1956 along One of numerous therianthropic sculptures carved from round with numerous similar, but headless, figurines (including the Sitting sandstone cobbles, from the Serbian Lepenski Vir Ib Woman of Cernavoda) in a Neolithic necropolis in the lower settlement, with a wide, fish-like mouth. Now in the National Danube region. Considered to be one of the greatest sculptures Museum, Belgrade. ever, it resides in the National History Museum, Bucharest.  Pre- Historic sculptural Art Anthropomorphic Figures Dancing girl of Mohenjo-Daro (2300 BC) This extraordinarily 'modern' piece of early Indian sculpture is a masterpiece of Harappan-culture bronze sculpture from the Indus Valley Civilization in India. It depicts a girl dressed only in an assortment of arm bracelets and bangles, whose sassy pose suggests she is about to start dancing. Now in the National Museum of Art in New Delhi.  Pre- Historic sculptural Art Animal Figurines Swimming Reindeer (c.11,000 BCE), France Late Ice Age French sculpture of two swimming reindeer, now in the British Museum, London. It is regarded as the oldest work of art in any British museum.  Pre- Historic sculptural Art Animal Figurines Kneeling Bull with Vessel (c.3000 BCE) One of the oldest masterpieces of silver metalwork, it was crafted by Mesopotamian silversmiths during the Proto-Elamite Period. Comprised of a naturalist head and front hooves of an ox, with a blank lower half, decorated with abstract incised patterns. Probably based on a mythological theme. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.  Pre- Historic sculptural Art Animal Figurines Bull of Maikop (c.2500 BCE) One of four gold and silver bulls excavated from a Neolithic royal burial mound near Maikop in the North Caucasus area of Russia. Stylistically reminiscent of plastic art from Mesopotamia and Sumeria - see for instance the Proto- Elamite Kneeling Bull with Vessel (above) - this 3-inch treasure now resides in the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization 3000- 1300BCE  Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization 3000- 1300BCE The arts of Indus Valley civilisation, one of the earliest civilisations of the world, emerged during the second half of the third millennium (Bronze Age). The forms of art found from various sites of civilisation include sculptures, seals, pottery, gold ornaments, terracotta figures, etc. Their delineation of human and animal figures was highly realistic in nature. Modelling of figures was done in an extremely careful manner. Two major sites of Indus Valley civilization, along the river Indus are: North – cities of Harappa; South – Mohenjo-Daro. The site showcase one of the earliest examples of civic planning. Houses, markets, storage facilities, offices, etc. arranged in a grid-like pattern. In this pattern, roads were cut across one another in 90-degree angle and the city was divided into blocks. There was also a highly developed drainage system. While Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are situated in Pakistan, the important sites excavated in India are: Lothal, Surkotada, Dholavira – Gujarat Rakhigarh and Banwali – Haryana Ropar – Punjab Kalibangan and Balatha – Rajasthan Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization 3000- 1300BCE Stone Statues: Stone statues found in Indus valley sites are excellent examples of handling the 3D volume. Two major stone statues are: 1.Bearded Man (Priest Man, Priest-King) Found in Mohenjo-Daro. Bearded man’s figure made of Steatite. The figure interpreted as a priest and is draped in a shawl coming under the right arm and covering the left shoulder. The shawl is decorated with trefoil pattern. The eyes are elongated and half closed as in a meditative concentration. Nose is well formed and medium size. Short cut moustache and a short beard and whiskers. Hair is parted in the middle and a plain woven fillet is passed round the head. An armlet on the right hand and holes around neck suggest necklace. A slight touch of the Greek style of statues can be seen overall.  Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization Bronze Casting: 3000- 1300BCE Bronze casting was practiced in wide scale in almost all major sites of the civilization. 1.Dancing Girl The technique used for Bronze Casting was Lost Found from Mohenjo-Daro. Wax Technique. Made up of Bronze. [Initially, the figure needed is made of wax and One of the best-known artifacts from Indus valley. covered it with clay. After allowed to dry the clay, Approximately 4-inch high figure of a dancing girl. the whole thing is heated so that the wax inside This exquisite casting depicts a girl whose long hair the clay will be melted. The molten wax was then is tied in the bun and bangles cover her left arm. Cowry shell necklace is seen around her neck. drained out through a tiny hole made in the clay Her right hand is on her hip and her left hand is part. The hollow mold of clay thus created was clasped in a traditional Indian dance gesture. filled with molten metal. Once it cooled, the clay She has large eyes and flat nose. cover was completely removed]. Human as well as animal figures are present in the Bronze casting. Amongst animal figures the buffalo with its 2.Bull from Mohenjo-Daro uplifted head, back and sweeping horns and Bronze figure of the bull found in Mohenjo- the goat are artistic merits. Daro. Copper dog and bird of Lothal and the Bronze The massiveness of the bull and the fury of figure of a bull from Kalibangan shows that the charge are eloquently expressed. The animal is shown standing with his head Bronze casting was popular at all centers of turned to the right. Indus valley civilization. There is a cord around the neck. Metal casting continued even after the Indus valley civilization through late Harappan, Chalcolithic people, etc.  Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization 3000- 1300BCE Terracotta: Terracotta figures are more realistic in Gujarat sites and Kalibangan. In terracotta, we find a few figurines of bearded males with coiled hairs, their posture rigidly upright, legs slightly apart, and the arms parallel to the sides of the body. The repetition of this figure in exactly the same position would suggest that he was a deity. A terracotta mask of a horned deity has also been found. Toy carts with wheels, whistles, rattles, bird and animals, gamesmen, and discs were also rendered in terracotta. The most important terracotta figures are those represent Mother Goddess. 1.Mother Goddess Mainly found in Mohenjo-Daro. These figures are usually crude standing figures. Adorned with necklaces hanging over the prominent breast and wearing a loin cloth and a grid. The fan-shaped headdress with a cup like projection on each side is a distinct decorative feature of the mother goddess. The pellet eyes and beaked nose of the figure are very crude (constructed in a rudimentary way). Mouth is indicated by a narrow opening.  Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization 3000- 1300BCE Seals: Thousands of seals were discovered from the sites, usually made of steatite, and occasionally of agate, chert, copper, faience and terracotta, with beautiful figures of animals such as unicorn bull, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, bison, goat, buffalo, etc. The purpose was mainly commercial. They were also used as amulets, carried on the persons of their owners, perhaps as modern identity cards. Standard Harappan seal was 2 x 2 square inches. Every seal is engraved in a pictographic script which is yet to be deciphered. Some seals were also been found in Gold and Ivory.  Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization 3000- 1300BCE Pottery: Indus valley pottery consists of very fine wheel made wares, very few being handmade. Plain pottery is more common than painted ware. Plain pottery is generally red clay, with or without a fine red or grey slip. The black painted ware has a fine coating of red slip on which geometric and animal designs are executed in glossy black paint. Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization 3000- 1300BCE Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization 3000- 1300BCE  Sculptural Art of Indus valley civilization 3000- 1300BCE Beads, Ornaments and Cosmetics: The Harappan men and women decorated themselves with a large variety of ornaments produced from every conceivable materials ranging from precious metals and gemstones to bone and baked clay. White necklaces, fillets, armlets and finger rings were commonly worn by both sexes. Jewellery found at Mohenjo-Daro and Lothal include necklaces of gold and semiprecious metal stones, copper bracelets and beads, gold earrings and head ornaments. A cemetery has been found at Farmana in Harappa where dead bodies were buried with ornaments. Well developed bead industries were present at Chanhudaro and Lothal. Some beads were made of two or more stones cemented together. Also made models of animals, especially monkeys and squirrels, used as pin head and beads. Spinning of cotton and wool was very common (both rich and poor practiced spinning). Men and women wore two separate pieces of attire similar to dhoti and shawl. Shawl covered the left shoulder passing below right arm. They were conscious of fashion. Different hair styles were in vogue and beard was popular. Cinnabar was used as a cosmetic and face-paint, lipstick and collyrium (eyeliner) were also known to them. Thank You!