SCHOOLS OF ART

I. Gandhara School
Period, Place and Patrons It flourished from about the middle of the first
century BC to about the fifth century AD in the Gandhara region (northwestern
India) and hence known as the ‘Gandhara School’
. It owed its origin to the
Indo-Greek rulers, but the real patrons of the school were the Sakas and the
Kushanas, especially Kanishka. Owing to its intimate connection with
Mahayana Buddhism, it is also called the ‘Graeco-Buddhist School’
.
Gandhara Sculpture Specimens of Gandhara sculpture have been found
extensively in the ruins of Taxila and the various ancient sites in Afghanistan
and north-western India. They were executed in black stone. Gandhara school
has the following main features.
A tendency to mould the human body in a realistic manner with great
attention to accuracy of physical details, especially the delineation of
muscles, the addition of moustaches, curly hair, and the like.
The representation of thick drapery with large and bold fold lines; and
Rich carving, elaborate ornamentation and complex symbolism.
Gandhara Architecture excelled mainly during the construction of
monasteries and stupas.
Buddhist Monasteries A very large number of Buddhist monasteries were
built in the early centuries of the Christian era. Ruins of about 15 monasteries
have been found in the neighbourhood of Peshawar and Rawalpindi. while in
the Kabul valley alone there are some 50 examples.
Buddhist Stupas The Graeco-Roman architectural impact modified the
structure of the stupa. The orthodox Indian design of the stupa was developed
into an architectural composition of fine proportions and character. The
height of the stupa was raised enormously by elevating it on a high platform
and by elongating its main body upwards. Besides, plastic ornamentation was
added to the structure of the stupa. All this provided the stupa effective and
colourful appearance.
Pre– Gupta Schools of Art
The main theme of Gandhara school can be said to be the new form of
Buddhism, viz. Mahayanism, and its most important contribution was the
evolution of an image of the Buddha.

Mathura School
Period and Place The school of art that developed at Mathura (UP) has
been called the ‘Mathura School’
. Its origin has been traced back to the
middle of the second century BC, but it was only in the first century AD that its
genuine progress began. The artists of Mathura used the spotted red
sandstone for making images. Though the Mathura school owed much to the
earlier Indian traditions (Bharhut, Gaya and Sanchi), it also borrowed from
the Gandhara school and adopted more than one Graeco-Roman motif.
Jaina Images In its early phase, the Mathura school was probably inspired
by Jainism as we find that many figures of cross-legged naked tirthankaras in
meditation were carved by Mathura craftsmen.
Buddhist Images The early Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Mathura
school are fleshy figures with little spirituality about them, but later they
developed in grace and religious feeling. The attempt to display spiritual
strength by a circle behind the faces of the images, in fact, began with the
Mathura school.
Brahmanical Images The Mathura artists also carved out images of
Brahmanical divinities. Popular Brahmanical gods, Siva and Vishnu, were
represented alone and sometimes with their consorts, Parvati and Lakshmi
respectively. Images of many other Brahmanical deities were also faithfully
executed in stone.
Female Figures The most striking remains are the beautiful female figures
of yaksinis, naginis and apsaras. These richly jewelled ladies, stand in pert
attitudes reminiscent of the Indus dancing girl.
Royal Statues Most of the Kushana royal statues were found at the village
of Mat (near Mathura) where the Kushana kings had a winter palace, with a
chapel in which the memory of former monarchs and princes was revered.
Almost all the figures have been broken by the rulers of the succeeding
dynasties, and that of the great Kanishka, the most striking of the statues,
unfortunately lacks its head.
Amaravati School
Period and Place In the region between the lower valleys of the Krishna
and Godavari, which became an important centre of Buddhism at least as
early as the second century BE, a separate school of art, known as the
‘Amaravati School’
, flourished. Though it had its beginnings in the middle of
the second century BE, it matured only in the later Satavahana period (second
and third century AD) and declined by the end of the forth century AD. Its
main centres were Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda and Jaggayyapeta. Its artists
mainly used white marble.
Buddhists Statues The great stupa of Amaravati was adorned with
limestone reliefs depicting scenes of the Buddha’s life and surrounded with
free-standing Buddha figures.
Secular Statues Amaravati artists created beautiful human images, which
outnumber those of religious nature. The figures and images of males and
females carved under the influence of this school have been regarded as some
of the best among the contemporaries not only from the point of view of their
size, physical beauty and expression of human emotions, but also from the
point of view of composition. The female figures in different moods and
poses are in particular its best creations. Even men, animals and vegetation
have been treated elegantly.
ROCK-CUT CAVE ARCHITECTURE
Karle and Bhaja Caves
Karle and Bhaja Caves are located near Lonavala in Maharashtra. The
Bhaja caves are regarded to be from the times of Hinayana phase of
Buddhism, which is of 2nd to 1st century BC. These caves are also mainly
Viharas and Chaityas and located just 3 km away from the main road
amidst green surroundings. There is also a waterfall near the cave where
tourists can refresh themselves with a dip. Lohagad and Visapur forts are
not far from these caves.
alive. It takes nearly 20 minutes to climb up the steep way of the Karle
caves. There is a 45 meter (148-foot) long Chaitya, possibly the finest of
its kind in the country. A temple has been built recently built at the
entrance using pillars from the Buddhist period.
There is a sculpture of Buddha preaching seated on a lion-supported
throne, which has magnificent carvings of three elephants. The pillars are
adorned with motifs of elephants, men and riding women, etc.
Junnar Caves
The Junnar hill, situated at a small place known as Junnar in Maharashtra,
houses a cluster of ancient
Buddhist caves. Belonging to the period between 2nd century BCE to the 3rd
century CE, the Junnar caves due to their construction and architecture,
attract the tourists, Buddhists and archaeologists.
The Junnar caves have been divided into three major categories: 1. Tulija
Lena group; 2. Manmodi Hill group, and 3. Ganesh Lena group. The
Tulija Lena group, 5 km to the west, comprising Chaityas or the prayer
halls, has a circular dome ceiling in the Chaiya hall in the cave number
three. The second group of caves, which lies 1.5 km south of Junnar
towards the Manmodi hills, constitute a well preserved facade. The third
group, the Ganesh Lena group, which is located 4 km south of Junnar,
comprises a large number of small cells and viharas. The main vihara of
this group has been named ‘Ganesh Lena’
, after the group with same name.