Gupta art
Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 7 "The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity"
Meaning
Gupta art is the art of the Gupta period (c. 4th–6th century CE). Gupta wealth paid for temples, scholars and artists. The art made in this time set standards of beauty that later artists followed for centuries. This is part of why the period is called a "classical age". Patronage was broad: the Guptas were devout Vaishnavas, but they also supported Buddhist centres such as Nalanda.
Example
Gupta art includes the graceful Buddha sculptures of Sarnath, Vishnu carvings in the Udayagiri caves (Madhya Pradesh) and the Ajanta paintings, made with Vakataka support. It also includes terracottas of Ganga and Yamuna from Ahichchhatra and early stone temples such as Deogarh.
Don't confuse with
- Gandhara and Mathura schools: these are earlier schools from the Kushana period. Gandhara used grey-black schist, and Mathura used red sandstone.
Related concepts
- Sarnath school of art
- Mudras
- Abhaya mudra
- Bhumisparsha mudra
- Dharmachakra mudra
- Dhyana mudra
- Varada mudra
- Vitarka mudra
- Anjali mudra
- Uttarabodhi mudra