Gupta Age art and architecture
● Gupta Age:
The Gupta period may be described as ‘classic’ in the sense of the degree of perfection it achieved The Gupta period may be described as ‘classic’ in the sense of the degree of perfection it something that was never achieved before and has seldom been achieved since and in perfect balance and harmony of all elements in style and iconography. also considered as" The Golden Age of Indian Architecture" .
The Guptas were Bramhanical by Religion (Hindus) with special devotion to Vishnu, but they showed exemplary tolerance for both Buddhism and Jainism. Puranic Hinduism with its three Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti, as the consort of Shiva came to forefront. The art of period is
The Guptas were Bramhanical by Religion (Hindus) with special devotion to Vishnu, but they showed exemplary tolerance for both Buddhism and Jainism. Puranic Hinduism with its th deities – Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti, as the consort of Shiva came to forefront. The art of period is
marked by a deep spiritual quality and a vision which tries to record the higher and deeper truths of life . While early Gupta art shows an emphasis on Hindu art, the climax of Buddhist art, with all the previous tendencies combined into a classical statement, comes during the later period.
The rock cut cave temple and monastery tradition also continued in this period, notably in western India, where the excavations – especially at Ajanta acquire extreme richness and magnificence. The monasteries are characterized by the introduction of images into some of the cells, so that they are of the nature of the temples instead of being simple residences. While there were some striking cave architectural pieces, the Gupta period is specially marked for the development of new temple styles.
■ Rock Cut Cave-------)
● Ajanta Caves:
It is located in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state. Ajanta has twenty nine caves. It has four chaitya caves datable to earlier phase, i.e. second and first century BCE and the later phase i.e. the fifth century. It has large chaitya-viharas and is decorated with sculptures and paintings. Ajanta is the only surviving example of the paintings of the first century BCE and the fifth century CE. These caves are carved on a perpendicular cliff. As they are on perpendicular side, there are no courtyards.
All the three forms of Art are combined in these caves : Architecture, Sculpture & paintings
architecture plan@Ajanta
•sculpture
•sculpture
•sculpture
.•Paining@Ajanta.
■ Fresco Mural Paintings inside the Cave: Fresco is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the pigment and with the setting of the plaster, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall.
■ Ellora Caves:
Another important cave site located in Aurangabad district is Ellora. It is located a hundred kilometers from Ajanta and has thirty-two Buddhist, Bramhanical and Jain caves. It is a unique art historical site in the country as it has monasteries associated with the three religions dating from fifth century CE onwards to the eleventh century CE. It is also unique in terms of stylistic eclecticism, i.e. confluence of many styles at one place. There are twelve Buddhist caves having many images belonging to Vajrayana Buddhism like Tara, Mahamayuri, Akshobhya etc. Buddhist caves are big in size and are of single, double and triple storey. Their pillars are massive. Ajanta also has the excavated double storey caves but at Ellora, the triple storey is a unique achievement.
All the caves were plastered and painted but nothing visible is left. Unlike the Ajanta caves, the Ellora cave temples were carved out on the sloping side of the hill. Hence most of the temples have courtyards. The sculptures at Ellora are monumental, and have protruding volume that create deep recession in the picture space. The images are heavy and show considerable sophistication. Cave no 16 is a rock cut temple, known as Kailash leni and it has been carved out of a single rock, a unique achievement of the artisans.
● Elephanta:
The Elephanta caves located near Mumbai, were originally a Buddhist site which was later dominated by the Shaivite faith. It is contemporary with Ellora and its sculptures show slenderness in the body, with stark light and dark effects.
■ Bagh Caves:
•
● paintings@Bagh caves.
It is located near Indore in Madhya Pradesh. There are 9 sandstone Buddhist Caves with beautiful Frescos and sculptured work. It is dated around sixth century CE.
● Junagarh Caves (Uparkot):
It is ancient fortress. Its entrance, in the form of an archway is a fine specimen of Hindu torana. Uparkot has many interesting Buddhist caves and was evidently the site of a Buddhist monastery in ancient times.
■ Nashik Caves:
It is located to SW of Nashik, in Trimbak range of hills. There are 23 Buddhist caves belonging to Hinayana Period of Buddhist architecture and dating back to the 1st Century CE. These are called as Pandu leni meaning group of caves.
■ Montepzir/Mandapeshwar Cave:
The caves are of particular interest as they are probably the onlyBramhanical caves to be converted into a Christian shrine.
● Sculpture One new school was added i.e. Sarnath school of sculpture, which developed near Sarnath. Many Buddha images in Sarnath have plain transparent drapery covering both shoulders and halo around the head has very little ornamentation whereas the Mathura Buddha images continue to depict the folds of the drapery in the Buddha images and the halo around the head is profusely decorated. Noteworthy example is Sultanganj Buddha (7.5ft in height).
■ Temple Architecture Seated Buddha, Sarnath
Gupta period marks the beginning of Indian temple architecture. Manuals were written regarding how to form temples.
------■ The Gupta temples were of five main types:
1) Square building with flat roof shallow pillared porch; as Kankali Devi temple at Tigawa and the Vishnu Varaha temples at Eran. The nucleus of a temple – the sanctum or cella (garbhagriha) – with a single entrance and a porch (Mandapa) appears for the first time here.
2) An elaboration of the first type with the addition of an ambulatory (paradakshina) around the sanctum sometimes a second storey; examples the Shiva temple at Bhumara(M.P.) and the ladkhan at Aihole. Another noteworthy example is Pārbati temple at Nachnakuthara (M.P.).
3) The square temple with a low and squat tower (shikhara) above; pillared approach, a high platform at the base; notable examples are theDasavatara temple (Deogarh Jhansi) and the brick temple at Bhitargaon Kanpur. The most unique achievement of this stage was "Curvilinear tower" i.e. "Shikhara". "Nagara Style " temple making is said to be the success of third stage of temple making.
4) Rectangular temple with an apsidal back and barrel-vaulted roof above such as the Kapoteswara temple at Cezarla( Krishna district).
5) Circular temples with shallow rectangular projection at the four cardinal faces; the only monument exemplifying the style is the Maniyar Math shrine at Rajgir, Bihar.
(The fourth and fifth types appear to be survivals/adaptations of the earlier forms and do not appear to have much influenced subsequent development)..
The Gupta period may be described as ‘classic’ in the sense of the degree of perfection it achieved The Gupta period may be described as ‘classic’ in the sense of the degree of perfection it something that was never achieved before and has seldom been achieved since and in perfect balance and harmony of all elements in style and iconography. also considered as" The Golden Age of Indian Architecture" .
The Guptas were Bramhanical by Religion (Hindus) with special devotion to Vishnu, but they showed exemplary tolerance for both Buddhism and Jainism. Puranic Hinduism with its three Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti, as the consort of Shiva came to forefront. The art of period is
The Guptas were Bramhanical by Religion (Hindus) with special devotion to Vishnu, but they showed exemplary tolerance for both Buddhism and Jainism. Puranic Hinduism with its th deities – Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti, as the consort of Shiva came to forefront. The art of period is
marked by a deep spiritual quality and a vision which tries to record the higher and deeper truths of life . While early Gupta art shows an emphasis on Hindu art, the climax of Buddhist art, with all the previous tendencies combined into a classical statement, comes during the later period.
The rock cut cave temple and monastery tradition also continued in this period, notably in western India, where the excavations – especially at Ajanta acquire extreme richness and magnificence. The monasteries are characterized by the introduction of images into some of the cells, so that they are of the nature of the temples instead of being simple residences. While there were some striking cave architectural pieces, the Gupta period is specially marked for the development of new temple styles.
■ Rock Cut Cave-------)
● Ajanta Caves:
It is located in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state. Ajanta has twenty nine caves. It has four chaitya caves datable to earlier phase, i.e. second and first century BCE and the later phase i.e. the fifth century. It has large chaitya-viharas and is decorated with sculptures and paintings. Ajanta is the only surviving example of the paintings of the first century BCE and the fifth century CE. These caves are carved on a perpendicular cliff. As they are on perpendicular side, there are no courtyards.
All the three forms of Art are combined in these caves : Architecture, Sculpture & paintings
•sculpture
•sculpture
•sculpture
■ Fresco Mural Paintings inside the Cave: Fresco is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the pigment and with the setting of the plaster, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall.
■ Ellora Caves:
Another important cave site located in Aurangabad district is Ellora. It is located a hundred kilometers from Ajanta and has thirty-two Buddhist, Bramhanical and Jain caves. It is a unique art historical site in the country as it has monasteries associated with the three religions dating from fifth century CE onwards to the eleventh century CE. It is also unique in terms of stylistic eclecticism, i.e. confluence of many styles at one place. There are twelve Buddhist caves having many images belonging to Vajrayana Buddhism like Tara, Mahamayuri, Akshobhya etc. Buddhist caves are big in size and are of single, double and triple storey. Their pillars are massive. Ajanta also has the excavated double storey caves but at Ellora, the triple storey is a unique achievement.
All the caves were plastered and painted but nothing visible is left. Unlike the Ajanta caves, the Ellora cave temples were carved out on the sloping side of the hill. Hence most of the temples have courtyards. The sculptures at Ellora are monumental, and have protruding volume that create deep recession in the picture space. The images are heavy and show considerable sophistication. Cave no 16 is a rock cut temple, known as Kailash leni and it has been carved out of a single rock, a unique achievement of the artisans.
● Elephanta:
The Elephanta caves located near Mumbai, were originally a Buddhist site which was later dominated by the Shaivite faith. It is contemporary with Ellora and its sculptures show slenderness in the body, with stark light and dark effects.
■ Bagh Caves:
•It is located near Indore in Madhya Pradesh. There are 9 sandstone Buddhist Caves with beautiful Frescos and sculptured work. It is dated around sixth century CE.
● Junagarh Caves (Uparkot):
It is ancient fortress. Its entrance, in the form of an archway is a fine specimen of Hindu torana. Uparkot has many interesting Buddhist caves and was evidently the site of a Buddhist monastery in ancient times.
■ Nashik Caves:
It is located to SW of Nashik, in Trimbak range of hills. There are 23 Buddhist caves belonging to Hinayana Period of Buddhist architecture and dating back to the 1st Century CE. These are called as Pandu leni meaning group of caves.
■ Montepzir/Mandapeshwar Cave:
The caves are of particular interest as they are probably the onlyBramhanical caves to be converted into a Christian shrine.
● Sculpture One new school was added i.e. Sarnath school of sculpture, which developed near Sarnath. Many Buddha images in Sarnath have plain transparent drapery covering both shoulders and halo around the head has very little ornamentation whereas the Mathura Buddha images continue to depict the folds of the drapery in the Buddha images and the halo around the head is profusely decorated. Noteworthy example is Sultanganj Buddha (7.5ft in height).
■ Temple Architecture Seated Buddha, Sarnath
Gupta period marks the beginning of Indian temple architecture. Manuals were written regarding how to form temples.
------■ The Gupta temples were of five main types:
1) Square building with flat roof shallow pillared porch; as Kankali Devi temple at Tigawa and the Vishnu Varaha temples at Eran. The nucleus of a temple – the sanctum or cella (garbhagriha) – with a single entrance and a porch (Mandapa) appears for the first time here.
2) An elaboration of the first type with the addition of an ambulatory (paradakshina) around the sanctum sometimes a second storey; examples the Shiva temple at Bhumara(M.P.) and the ladkhan at Aihole. Another noteworthy example is Pārbati temple at Nachnakuthara (M.P.).
3) The square temple with a low and squat tower (shikhara) above; pillared approach, a high platform at the base; notable examples are theDasavatara temple (Deogarh Jhansi) and the brick temple at Bhitargaon Kanpur. The most unique achievement of this stage was "Curvilinear tower" i.e. "Shikhara". "Nagara Style " temple making is said to be the success of third stage of temple making.
4) Rectangular temple with an apsidal back and barrel-vaulted roof above such as the Kapoteswara temple at Cezarla( Krishna district).
5) Circular temples with shallow rectangular projection at the four cardinal faces; the only monument exemplifying the style is the Maniyar Math shrine at Rajgir, Bihar.
(The fourth and fifth types appear to be survivals/adaptations of the earlier forms and do not appear to have much influenced subsequent development)..
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