Between which years did the Indus Valley, or Harappan, Civilization flourish?
Between 2500 B.C. and 1750 B.C.
What characterized sculpted pillars in Mauryan art?
They were highly polished.
What represented popular folk art in the Mauryan period?
Crude mother-goddess figures.
What sculptural form did the Kushans help develop for the first time in India?
Sculpted portraiture.
From which period is the Dancing Girl metal sculpture?
The Harappan period.
Where was the Dancing Girl sculpture found?
Mohenjo-daro.
Where does the Dancing Girl place her right hand?
At her waist.
When was the Rampurva Bull Capital made?
In the 3rd century B.C.
Where was the Rampurva Bull Capital found?
At Rampurva.
Which three elements make up an Ashokan pillar?
A base, an elongated shaft, and a decorated capital.
What are the parts of the Rampurva Bull Capital?
A bell-shaped inverted lotus base, a plant-designed abacus, and a bull above them.
How is the Gupta period regarded in Indian art history?
The golden or classical period.
What did Gupta sculpture refine in its representation of people?
The representation of human figures.
What qualities did Gupta sculpture combine?
Balance, skill, mastery, and imagination.
Where are the Ajanta caves, and how many caves are there?
Near Aurangabad in Maharashtra; thirty caves, including unfinished ones.
What were the primary functions of Ajanta caves?
Some served as chaityas, and most as viharas.
How is Buddha represented in the Hinayana and Mahayana phases of Ajanta painting?
Symbolically in the Hinayana phase and in human form in the Mahayana phase.
Which technique do Ajanta paintings use instead of fresco?
The tempera technique.
Which two major Harappan sites are now in Pakistan?
Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.
What kinds of objects did Harappan artists make?
Seals, pottery, jewellery, tools, toys, statuettes, and utilitarian objects.
Which major Sunga artistic works were created at Sanchi?
The great stupa and sculptures.
Where is Sanchi, the site of Sunga artistic works?
Madhya Pradesh.
How tall is the Dancing Girl sculpture?
Approximately 4 inches.
What does the Dancing Girl wear on her left arm?
Bangles extending almost to the shoulder.
How is the Dancing Girl’s hair arranged?
Tied in a bun.
What technical skill does the Dancing Girl demonstrate?
Accurate metal casting.
What impression does the Dancing Girl’s small size create?
An impression of monumentality.
What material is the Rampurva Bull Capital made of?
Polished sandstone.
How tall is the Rampurva Bull Capital?
Approximately 7 feet.
How does the bull contrast with the base and abacus in the Rampurva Bull Capital?
The bull is plain, unlike the ornate lotus base and abacus.
What surface characteristic defines Ashokan-period Mauryan sculptures?
An extremely polished surface.
What distinctive lip feature characterizes Gupta sculptures?
A slight tilt of the lip.
Which four centres were important in Gupta art?
Mathura, Sarnath, Ujjain, and Ahichhatra.
Which three developments featured in Gupta-period art?
Secular sculpture, Ajanta paintings, and cave and temple architecture.
Where are important examples of Gupta-period cave and temple architecture found?
At the Udaygiri caves in Madhya Pradesh and at Nachna and Bhumara.
During which period were most Ajanta paintings made?
The Vakataka period.
What is the approximate size of the Ajanta Black Princess painting?
Approximately 20 by 6 feet.
Who painted the Ajanta Black Princess?
The artist is unknown.
What themes and colours characterize Ajanta paintings?
Religious themes and subdued, earthy colours.
Answer 13 questions on Indian Art from Harappa to Gupta.
1. During which period did the Indus Valley, or Harappan, Civilization flourish?
2. What contrast characterized Mauryan sculpted pillars and popular mother-goddess figures?
Go over the full study guide for Indian Art from Harappa to Gupta.
Read the study guide →Upload your class notes and Revizly writes your flashcards in about a minute.
Flashcard maker