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Q1. The peak of Indian art’s development can be found in the art and architecture of the Mauryan Empire. Discuss the various art and architectural elements of it. (250 words, 15 Marks)
Approach:
- Introduction: Briefly give an idea about the peak of Indian art’s development during the Mauryan period.
- Body:
- Mention about Court Art, like Pillars, Stupas and Palaces.
- Highlight the important pottery and sculpture during the era.
- Conclusion: Conclude by stating that the art and architecture during the Mauryan period had a significant influence on the development of Indian art.
Answer:
The reign of the Mauryans is a significant period in our historical context. Art and architecture were at their pinnacle during the Ashoka period and fell under the genre of Court Art. The Indian subcontinent was first ruled by the Mauryan Empire. It marked a significant shift in Indian art from the use of wood to stone.
- Categories of Mauryan Art:
- Court Art: Pillars, Stupas, and Palaces.
- Popular Art: Pottery and Sculpture.
Court Arts:
- Pillars:
- One of the best works of sculpture from the Ashokan era is the Sarnath pillar.
- Pillars, in part:
- A long monolithic shaft composed of chunar sandstone in most cases (Famous for polished finish)
- The lotus- or bell-shaped (Iranian-influenced) capital with one or more animal figures was placed at the top of the shaft.
- A circular or rectangular base known as the Abacus is located above the capital.
- The animal figure is on the abacus. The lion capital of Lauria Nandangarh, the bull capital of Rampurva, and the lion capital of Sarnath are the three most noteworthy.
- Stupas:
- Burial mounds were called stupas:
- Ashes and artefacts are kept here.
- Wooden structures were used to embellish Medhi and Torana.
- Original construction consisted of bricks and a wooden railing around it. Subsequently, stone replaced wood as the preferred material.
- Known stupas include:
- North India’s Bharhut, Sanchi, and Bodh Gaya.
- In the South, Amravati and Nagarjuna Konda.
- Palaces:
- Wooden fort was built in Bihar during the reign of Chandra Gupta Maurya beside the Ganges.
- The Achaemenid palace at Persepolis served as inspiration for Chandragupta Maurya’s palaces.
- The palace was referred to by Megasthenes as the finest human creation.
- Near Patna, Ashoka built a magnificent palace that was surrounded by a high brick wall.
- A wooden pillar with three stories stood in this palace.
Popular Arts:
- Sculptures:
- Sculptures were used as stupa decorations in Torana and Medhi.
- Famous Mauryan-era sculptures include Yakshini and Yakshand.
- A chauri (flywhisk) is held in the right hand of Yakshini.
- Elephant statue in Dhauli.
- It’s an astounding image of the elephant rising from the rock.
- Pottery:
- North Black Polished (NBP) Ware, the most renowned pottery of the Mauryan era.
Cave Architecture:
- Beautiful examples of Mauryan architecture can be found in Barabar Hills near Bodh Gaya.
- Features include ornate entrances and internal walls of high-quality polish.
- A relief carving on the doorway of a cave known as Lomas Rishi cave serves as the solitary sculpture’s adornment.
- During the Mauryan era, seven rock-cut caves were discovered in the Barabar and Nagarjuna hills near Gaya in Bihar.
Mauryan art was developed under the Mauryan Empire, which was the first empire to rule most of the Indian subcontinent, during the 4th and 2nd Centuries BC. Mauryan monarchs, notably Ashoka, embraced it as a regal art form. The art and architecture of the Mauryans had a significant influence on the development of Ancient India’s history as the Mauryan kingdom spanned such a large territory, its art reached great distances and gained widespread acclaim.
