Fine Arts Test - 7

The correct answer is Dancing Girl.

Key Points

• Dancing Girl:
  • This sculpture was found in Mohenjo-Daro.
  • It is a Bronze statue made by the lost wax process.
  • It is one of the best-known artefacts from Indus valley.
  • The approximately 4-inch high figure of a dancing girl.
  • This exquisite casting depicts a girl whose long hair is tied in a bun and bangles cover her left arm.
  • A cowry shell necklace is seen around her neck. Her right hand is on her hip and her left hand is clasped in a traditional Indian dance gesture. She has large eyes and a flat nose.

• Bronze Sculpture: Dancing Girl

Additional Information

•  Mother Goddess:
  • This terracotta sculpture has been made by hand.
  • It has its origin in Mohenjodaro, Pakistan and dates back to 2500 BCE.
  • It is 22cm in height.
  • The idol was discovered by John Marshall in 1931.
  • Mother Goddess is related to motherhood, fertility, reproduction, and the continuation of life.

• Terracotta statue of Mother Goddess.
• Male Torso:
  • This sculpture was found in Harappa (the only major art element found in Harappa).
  • It is made of Red Sandstone.
  • There are socket holes in the neck and shoulders for the attachment of the head and arms. Legs are broken. The shoulders are well baked and the abdomen slightly prominent.
  • One of the well-carved and finished works.

• Red sandstone Male Torso
• Bearded Priest:
  • This sculpture was found in Mohenjo-Daro.
  • The bearded man’s figure is made of Steatite stone.
  • The figure is 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 a trefoil pattern.
  • The eyes are elongated and half-closed as in a meditative concentration.
  • The nose is well-formed and medium size.
  • There is Short cut moustache and a short beard and whiskers. Hair is parted in the middle and a plain-woven fillet is passed around the head. An armlet on the right hand and holes around the neck suggest a necklace.
  • A slight touch of the Greek style of statues can be seen overall.

• Stone sculpture: Bearded Priest.

The correct answer is A-2,B-1,C-4,D-3.

Key Points

• Nataraj:
  • The mighty sculpture of Nataraja belongs to the medieval era and originated in South India under the patronage of the Chola Dynasty in the 12th century CE found in Chidambara Temple, Tamil Nadu.
  • It was made by the lost wax method.

• The Nataraj Statue of Bronze.
• Gommateshwara Bahubali:
  • This statue was constructed by Chamundaraya, a Ganga warrior in 981 CE under the patronage of the West Ganga Dynasty.
  • The statue of Lord Gometeshwara is considered to be one of the world’s tallest free-standing monolithic statues located at Sravanbelagola, Karnataka
  • It is 18 metres high and was constructed in 981 CE.
  • It is carved out of a single block of granite and looms on the top of Vindhyagiri Hill.

• Gommateshwara Bahubali statue at Sravanabelagola
• Yaksha Yakshini:
  • Monumental statues of Yaksha and Yashin are found in different parts of India like in Patna, Vidisha, and Mathura which were built under the patronage of the Mauryan Dynasty.
  •  These statues are seen in standing positions.
  • The statues have polished surfaces.
  • The depiction of faces is in the full round and has physiognomic detail.
  • One of the finest examples of Yakshini is found at Didarganj, Patna which is tall and well built.

• Yakshini of Didarganj, Patna
• Sarnath Sandstone Buddha:
  • The sandstone figure of Buddha is located at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.India
  • It belongs to the Gupta Period around 475 CE.
  • The statue is superbly carved with his right hand raised in the fear-abiding gesture and his left hand lowered holding the tip of his robe, wearing a tightly fitted sanghati revealing the slender outlines of his body.

• Sandstone Buddha of the Gupta Period at Sarnath.

The correct answer is Dasavatar Temple at Deogarh.

Key Points

• Dasavatar Temple at Deogarh:
  • ​The Vishnu Anantasayana panel of  Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh is dated to the 5th-6th century CE.
  • The Gupta-period sculpture adorning the temple includes many images from Hindu mythology.
  • This celebrated panel from the south wall of the temple has Vishnu reclining on the serpent Ananta and floating on the waters of oblivion. Above him, seated on a lotus leaf, is the Hindu creator god Brahma. Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, massages his feet.
• 
• Anantasayana Vishnu Panel

Additional Information

•  Parvati Temple of Nachna Kuthara:
  • The Parvati Temple is a two-storey building with an almost perfect square plan thick-walled sanctum of 15 feet (4.6 m) side on the outside and is 8 feet (2.4 m) sided square inside (the garbhagriya is a cube dated to the 5th- or 6th-century  of the Gupta Empire.
  • It is located in Panna, Madhya Pradesh.

• Parvati Temple
• Bhitargaon Temple at Kanpur:
  • The Bhitargaon Temple is a terraced brick temple. In front of it, there is a terracotta panel.
  • It is built in the 6th century during the Gupta Empire.
  • it is the oldest remaining terracotta Hindu shrine with a roof and a high Sikhara.

• Bhitargaon Temple

The correct answer is Lohanipur Torsos.

Key Points

•  Lohanipur Torsos:
  • The Lohanipur torso is a damaged statue of polished sandstone, dated to the 3rd century BCE - 2nd century CE, found in Lohanipur village, Patna.
  • It was highly influenced by the Graeco-Roman style.
  • Renowned Historians GK. P. Jayaswal and M. A. Dhaky have regarded this to be the earliest Jain sculpture found.
  • The Lohanipur torso is thought to represent a Jaina Tirthankara.
  • The statue is an outstanding example of Mauryan art.

• Lohanipur torso of Jain Tirthankara.

Additional Information

•  Image of Parsvanath at Sravanabelagola:
  • The idol of Parshva is an 18 feet monolithic idol standing over a lotus pedestal in the kayotsarga posture and a hood of seven-headed serpents overhead.
  • Parshvanatha Basadi was built in the 11th–12th century CE.
  • The idol has been noted as a fine example of  Jain craftsmanship.

• Parsvanath at Sravanabelagola
• Image of Rishabhnath at Kundalpur:
  • ​ It is famous for the miraculous larger-than-life statue of Bade Baba or Rishabhnath in sitting (Padmasana) posture.
  • It is 15 feet in height.

•  Statue Rishabhnath at Kundalpur is known as Bade Baba.
• ​Statue of Ahimsa:
  • The Statue of Ahimsa is located at Mangi-Tungi, in Nashik Maharashtra built-in 2016.
  • It is the tallest Jain statue in the world, per Guinness World Records.
  • The statue depicts the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha.
  • The statue is 108 feet (33 m) tall.
  • The statue has been carved out of the Mangi-Tungi hills, considered sacred by the Jains.

• Statue of Ahimsa at Nashik.

The correct answer is Satvahana Dynasty.

Key Points

• ​Amravati School of Art:
  • ​This school of art was developed in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
  • It emerged during the second half of the 2nd century.
  • Foreign influence was absent from the very beginning to the end.
  • Satvahanas,Ishkvakus,Vakatakas were the patrons of this school.
  • Like the Gandhara school, it only concentrated on Buddhism.
  • Vengi, Amravati, Goli, Ghantashala,  Nagarjunakonda etc were the centres of Amravati School of art.

• Amravati School of Art

Additional Information

•  Chola Art:
  • The remarkable feature of the Chola temples was their huge towers or vimana.
  • The Brihadeswara or Rajarajesvara temple, built by Rajaraja I and dedicated to Lord Shiva are the best examples of Chola architecture.
  • The masterpiece of Chola sculpture is the famous bronze sculpture  Nataraja or the Dancing Shiva image at the great temple of Chidambaram.

• Brihadeshwara Temple
• Pandya Art:
  • The Pinnacle of Pandyan architecture was found in the Meenakshi Amman temple of Madurai. This temple was built by “Kulasekara Pandiyan” during his rule.
  •  The temple served as an epitome of Dravidian architecture with gopurams, gate towers, pillared halls and reservoirs for ritual bathing.
  •  Shri Rangaswamy Temple built by Pandyas is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

• Meenakshi Temple
• Pallava Art:
  • The Five Rathas or Panch Rathas are five monolithic temple structures built by the Pallavas in the early 7th century CE. The structures are named after the Pancha Pandavas and their common wife Draupadi, epic. They include the Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakula Sahadeva Ratha, and Draupadi Ratha.
  • The magnificent "Kailasanatha Temple" is the oldest religious structure in Kanchipuram, a real masterpiece of the Dravidian school of architecture that was also built under the Pallava Dynasty. It was built between the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th century

    the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

• Rathas of Mahabalipuram.

The correct answer is Mahabalipuram.

 Key Points

• Mahabalipuram:
  • Descent of the Ganges is a monument at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
  • The legend depicted in the relief is the story of the descent of the sacred river Ganges to earth from the heavens led by Bhagiratha. The waters of the Ganges are believed to possess supernatural powers.
  • The descent of the Ganges and Arjuna's Penance are portrayed in stone sculptures.
  • It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

• Descent of Gange's sculpture on stone.

Additional Information

• Other sculptures at  Mahabalipuram:
  • The Five Rathas or Panch Rathas are five monolithic temple structures built by the Pallavas in the early 7th century AD and are located at Mahabalipuram.
  • The structures are named after the Pancha Pandavas and their common wife  Draupadi. They include the Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakula Sahadeva Ratha, and Draupadi Ratha.

• Rathas of Mahabalipuram.
• Kanchipuram:
  • The magnificent "Kailasanatha Temple" is the oldest religious structure in Kanchipuram, a real masterpiece of the Dravidian school of architecture.
  • It was built between the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th century.
  • The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva

• Kailasanatha Temple
• Madurai:
  • Located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu the temple is dedicated to the Goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwarar, a form of Shiva. 

• Meenakshi Temple
• Thiruvananthapuram:
  • The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
  • It is the world's richest temple.
  • The temple is built in an intricate fusion of the Chera style and Dravidian style of architecture.
  • The principal deity Padmanabhaswamy (Vishnu) is enshrined in the "Anantha Shayana" posture, the eternal yogic sleep on the infinite serpent Adi Shesh.

• Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The correct answer is A-4,B-3,C-2,D-1.Key Point

• Bhumisparsa Mudra:
  • Bhumisparsa means “touching the earth” or “calling mother earth to witness the truth”.
  • This hand gesture was used by Buddha in a sitting position.
  • During his meditation, Buddha was disturbed by the evil spirits but he did not want to break his meditation. He just lifted his right hand and pointed his fingers towards the earth to be a witness to this purity.
  • This enabled Buddha to overcome the darkness (Mara) disturbing him from moving on the path of righteousness to attain enlightenment.
  • It refers to unshaken belief and commitment.

• Buddha sitting with Bhumisparsa Mudra
• Abhaya Mudra:
  • This hand gesture was used by Buddha in both standing and sitting positions.
  • This mudra has an open palm facing front and a hand extending outwards after holding it at chest level.
  • It refers to fearlessness.

• Buddha sitting with Abhaya Mudra
• Uttarbodhi Mudra:
  • This mudra was done by Buddha in both sitting and standing positions.
  • In this gesture 5 fingers each of both hands are interwoven; index fingers touch each other and point upwards. Both hands are placed close to the chest.
  • It refers to Supreme Enlightenment.

• Buddha with Uttarbodhi Mudra
• Vajrapadma Mudra:
  •  In this gesture, Buddha places both hands on his chest representing peace.
  • It refers to unshakable self-confidence.

• Buddha with Vajrapadma Mudra.

The correct answer is Mathura.

Key Points

•  Mathura School of art:
  • The Art of Mathura refers to the school of Indian art, almost entirely surviving in the form of sculpture that emerged in the 2nd century BCE, which centred in the city of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh during a period when Buddhism, Jainism together with Hinduism flourished in India.
  • Initially, foreign elements were absent from the Mathura school of art but when it came under the Shakas and Kushanas, the influence of Graeco Roman art was visible.
  • Locally found spotted Redstone was used.
  • Unlike the Gandhara school which only concentrated on Buddhist sculpture, the Mathura school also made Brahmanical figures of Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, Surya, and Krishna beside Buddhist sculpture.
  • Yakshinis, Buddha, Bodhisattvas etc. were portrayed in Mathura school emphasizing inner beauty and emotions.
  • Mathura city, Jamalpur, Mat village, Kankali Tila were the centres of Mathura School of art.

• The headless figure of Kanishka of Mathura School.

Additional Information

• Amravati School of art:
  • This school of art was developed in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
  • It emerged during the second half of the 2nd century.
  • Foreign influence was absent from the very beginning to the end.
  • Satvahanas,Ishkvakus,Vakatakas were the patrons of this school.
  • Like the Gandhara school, it only concentrated on Buddhism.
  • Vengi, Amravati, Goli, Ghantashala,  Nagarjunakonda etc were the centres of Amravati School of art.
• Gandhar School of art:
  • Flourished in the northwestern part of India (Pakistan and Afghanistan)
  • It emerged during the second half of the 2nd century.
  • Artists used to use blue or green schist and phyllite to make figures.
  • Buddhism is only the subject of this school.
  • Highly influenced by Graeco Roman art.
  • Shakas and Kushanas were the patrons of this school.
  • Taxila, Laghman, Bamiyan, Biamaran,  Hodda and Begram were the important centres of this school.

The correct answer is Sarnath.

Key Points

• Sarnath:
  • ​The Lion Capital was discovered more than a hundred years ago located at Sarnath, near Varanasi.
  • This is one of the finest examples of sculpture from the Mauryan period built in commemoration of the historical event of the first sermon or the Dhammachakrapravartana by the Buddha at Sarnath.
  • The capital was built by Ashoka.
  • The capital originally consisted of five parts: (i) the shaft (which is broken in many parts now), (ii) a lotus bell base, (iii) a drum on the bell base with four animals proceeding clockwise, (iv) the figures of four majestic addorsed lions, and (v) the crowning element, Dharamchakra, a large wheel, was also a part of this pillar. However, this wheel is lying in a broken condition and is displayed in the site museum at Sarnath.
  • The capital without the crowning wheel and the lotus base has been adopted as the National Emblem of Independent India.
  • It is now preserved in the Archaeological Museum at Sarnath.

• Lion capital of Sarnath

Additional Information

• Rampurva: 
  • ​Rampurva Bull capital located at Rampurva is a polished sandstone sculpture.
  • This comprises a bell-shaped inverted lotus as the base. The abacus and on the top the animal-a majestic bull.
  • There are plants designed around the abacus.
  • The carving of the bull shows the mastery of Indian Sculpture over their subjects.
• Sanchi:
  • The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the most important Buddhist monuments reflecting gem of Buddhist art and architecture.
  • It is located at Sanchi Town, Madhya Pradesh, India,
  • This Stupa is the oldest stone structure in India that was built during the Mauryan period. Originally commissioned in the 3rd century BCE by Emperor Asoka.
  • This huge hemispherical dome consists of a central chamber where the relics of Lord Buddha are placed. There are four ornamental gateways facing four directions.

  • It is now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989.

• Lumbini:
  • The Ashoka Pillar in Lumbini is one of the 3rd Century stone pillars built under the reign of Emperor Ashoka.
  • Located at Lumbini, Nepal by the Nepalese Archaeologists. It is erected as a mark of respect by Ashoka after he visited Lord Buddha's place of birth and decided to accept Buddhism.
  • It bears the oldest inscription compared to the rest of the Ashoka Pillars. 

The correct answer is Chola.

Key Points

• The Nataraj Statue:
  • The mighty sculpture of Nataraja belongs to the medieval era and originated in South India under the patronage of the Chola Dynasty in the 12th century CE found in Chidambara Temple, Tamil Nadu.
  • It was made by the lost wax method.

• Statue of Nataraj

Additional Information

• The Cholas were formidable warriors, expanding their empire with military power, and savvy politicians, making agreements and exchanging gifts with local rulers and asserting authority over new territories without the administrative burdens of direct rule. 
• Rajaraja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I were the greatest rulers of the Chola Kingdom.
• The remarkable feature of the Chola temples was their huge towers or vimana.
• The Brihadeswara or Rajarajesvara temple, built by Rajaraja I and dedicated to Lord Shiva is the best example of Chola architecture.