From its beginnings in the Indus Valley Civilisation (2500-2000BC), Indian sculpture began to acquire a distinct character during the Maurayan period in the 4th century BC, when large-scale works in highly-polished stone began to be made. Throughout the early centuries AD, centers of art emerged all over India, mostly developing under Buddhist impetus but reflecting the impact of Hinduism, which was rapidly evolving. Sculpture flourished all over India in the centuries that followed.
In the south during the Chola period (9th-12th centuries AD) the technology of bronze sculpture was brought to a level of remarkable sophistication, epitomised by the image of dancing Shiva (Nataraja), one of the most famous icons of Indian art. In central India the erotic temple sculpture of Khajuraho (10th-13th centuries AD) developed traditions common to both Jains and Hindus.
While the Jains in western India
founded a school which revelled in decoration using the spectacular white
local marble, the Palas in Bengal patronised artists who combined the
occult with the rigour and mystery of its most feared deity, the goddess
Kali, and sculptors in the south Indian empire of Vijayanagar continued to
uphold this tradition until the 16th century. representing Indian
sculpture from ancient times up to the 16th century AD. Our site,
moortiartist.net will include work in stone, bronze, , ivory, marble and
wood, ranging from miniature to large-scale sculptures.
