The present volume 'Early Classical Art of South Asia' is edited by Prof. M.C. Joshi and Dr. D.P. Sharma. The period of Gupta dynasty begins around 319 A.R ends up to 578 A.D. The art of Gupta period has often been referred to as the classical art of early South Asia. The art of Gupta period was characterized by a sensitivity modeled body from a severity of expansion and dominant spiritual purpose.
During Gupta Age there was all-round development particularly in fine arts-literature both religious and non religious, sculpture, painting, music, dance, drama, 'Kalidasa’S literary metaphors, lyrics and norms of beauty are found translated in art as much as the softness and suppleness of limbs of sculpture are found translated in painting.
The three stages of Gupta arts like Kaushambi, Mathura and Samath represent three variations in refinement. Kaushambi represents transitional stage (319-375 AD) of Kusana-Gupta art, Mathura style is the early phase of Gtipta Art and Sarnath style shows more developmental stage of later part of Gupta Art.
The book covers art of Gupta Age (319-578 A.D.) Prof. M.C. Joshi wrote introduction and contributed six papers in this volume. This book contains 39 papers of eminent art historians and archaeologists. The important papers are of Prof. G.C. Pande, R.C. Sharma, D.P. Sharma, Madhuri Sharma, A.P. Jamkhekar, Prof. Krishna Deva, Prof. R. Balasubramaniam, J. P. Joshi, B.C. Shukla, A.K. Sharma, V.S. Agarwal, U .N, Rai. The Editors is of the opinion that Mathura Art represents earlier stage and Samath Art is the developed stage of Gupta Art. The Editors concluded that Vakataka metal images have their origin in late Amaravati School. Buddhist metal images of Ceylon as have their origin in late Amaravati School.
About the Author:
M. C. Joshi from Belgaum, India was a nuclear physicist and the founder and head of department of physics, University of Mumbai. The University Department of Physics, University of Mumbai was established in the year 1971.
The Department of Physics, under the leadership of Late Professor M. C. Joshi, took pioneering efforts in developing an Ion implantation facility in early seventies and has been in the forefront in studying different aspects of ion beam modifications of material properties. Joshi guided students for their Ph.D.s in physics.
Joshi followed Gandhian way of life. After his Ph.D. in Physics, he worked with several projects from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research before joining the Department of Physics, University of Mumbai in 1971. Joshi nurtured the department from its birth until he died in 1983; he was 55 when died.
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