1. Art History 6
Art of India

2. Timeline
India
Gray area is India as compared to Europa, Egypt, Mesopotamia and China. Timeline by Jacob Voorthuis

3. India Map of Ancient India
Map from
Ancient India is in the center of this map which shows its relationship to China, Europe and Africa

4. India Characteristics of Indian Art
The arts play a critical role in Indian life. Art helped release people from the physical surroundings
Indian art stresses interconnectivity of the arts.
Buddhist and Hindu philosophies play a role in the art of India
Most rulers of India supported the arts and was an active patron of the arts.
Artists were trained as apprentices in workshops with a master artist
India
Indian stone carving. GNU image, Jyotiryama, photographer
For an excellent slide show of Ancient Indian art, visit this web site:

5. Indian Folk Art
The montage image to the left is from Columbia University professor, Frances W. Pritchett’s web site.
The image shows Indian metalworking, enameling, embroidery, weaving and painting as well as illuminated manuscript pages.
The three images on the bottom are pages from an illuminated manuscript.
All of these arts are typical folk arts of India. All show colorful detail and pattern.
India

6. Indian Painting
The first Indian paintings are rock paintings and said to be from 5,500 BC.
Many of the colors used in Indian paintings came from minerals
Frescoes were painted in the monumental “caves” that were built in India. Those caves were excavations into the rock hillside and had incredible detailed sculpture carved into them
The paintings of India represent Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain philosophies as well as religious harmony
Many of the earliest paintings did not survive but there are writings from the period which describe the paintings
India
Nagpur, Todi Ragini, late 18th century, opaque watercolor on paper. from Miniature Worlds exhibit

7. Indian Batik Painting India
Batik art dates back about 1,000 to India. It involves applying a substance that will resist dye to a fabric, then dipping the fabric in dye to color parts of the fabric. The resisting substance is removed and another coat applied. The fabric is dipped in another color of dye. The number of colors in the artwork determine the steps in the process.
In contemporary America, students use wax as the substance to resist the dye. It is removed with heat. In India, other substances and methods are used for batik.
India
Batik painting

8. Indian Architecture India
The Taj Mahal is probably the best known building in historical India.
The Taj Mahal is in Agra, India
It is a mausoleum. In fact, it is the most famous mausoleum in the world. A mausoleum is a type of tomb.
It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shan Jahan in memory of his wife
Construction on the Taj Mahal began in 1632
The basic style is Persian. It is Muslim art.
Much of the building is white marble
Calligraphy is written on the building with inlaid jasper
It truly is an incredible building. Read more about it at
India
Dhirad photographer, Creative Commons free use image

9. Indian Architecture - Stupa
STUPA is a mound like structure containing Buddhist relics
Originally a stupa was simply a mound of mud or clay covering Buddhist relics or remains.
It is said that there are 8-10 original stupas which were used after the parinirvana of the Buddha to conceal his remains.
Nirvana (basically) means being at peace, free of suffering and rebirth.
The shape of Stupas changed over the years.
India
The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India. Photo by Gerald Anfossi, creative common image.
There are 8 different kinds of Stupas, each referring to events of the Buddha’s life.
Stupas have 5 basic parts which are symbolic.
Pagodas of East Asia derived from the Stupa.

10. Indian Sculpture India
Stone and bronze carvings are the earliest sculpture known from India.
As in painting and other arts of India, the mystical dance-like figures, gods and goddesses, and symbols are frequently depicted in sculpture.
The art and culture of India influenced much of Asia and other parts of the world.
Sculptures as well as intricately carved panels can be found in the temples and caves of India
India
Bronze, Chola period, creative commons image, Nataraja from Wikimedia. L to R: Parvati, Shiva and Vishnu

11. Indian Art
Indian art encompasses a huge amount of work over thousands of years.
Although the art developed and changed over those years, many aspects remained the same.
Two of the things you need to remember about Indian art are the intricate detail and the mystic qualities.
To the right, below, you see an Indian miniature painting. Miniature paintings are a whole category of Indian art. Sometimes those miniatures are the actual size of what you see here.
India
This Indian miniature painting is from around The artist is Hyderabad, Andhra
Image from “Miniature Worlds: Art from India