Indian Sculpture and Architecture

Abstract

THE Madras Government Museum has recently issued two publications, one of which is a guide to the archaeological galleries of the Museum and is intended as an introduction to South Indian temple architecture and sculpture, while the second contains an illustrative series of photographic reproductions of examples of Indian sculpture, mostly southern, for use with the guide (“Guide to the Archaeological Galleries”. By Dr. F. H. Gravely and C. Sivarama-murti and other curators. Madras Government Press. Pp. ? + 48 + 4 plates. 8 annas. ‘ ‘Illustrations of Indian Sculpture, mostly Southern, for use with the Guide to the Archaeological Galleries”. By Dr. F. H. Gravely and C. Sivaramamurti. Pp. ii-fxlv plates. Rs. 1.8). In the introductory remarks anticipating the text of the Guide, the principle is laid down that “The display of museum collections to the public aims at fostering a deep and intelligent interest in the universe of which we form a part, especially our immediate surroundings”, and it is added that the arrangement and display of this section of the Museum's exhibits have been attempted in such a way as to help visitors “to recognize for themselves the general affinities and probable period of temples and sculptures they see outside”. With this praiseworthy objective, the authors sketch briefly the history of Indian art from the time of Asoka and in the centuries before our era down to the ‘modern’ period, with abundant references to the photographs and casts illustrating the Northern Schools, as well as to the actual exhibits from those of the South, special attention necessarily being directed to the Gupta period and Amaravarti.