“Gupta sculpture is the logical outcome of the early classical sculpture of Amravati and Mathura.” Discuss with examples. (150 Words)
The Gupta period can be described as “classic” in the sense of the degree of perfection never achieved before or since, and in the perfect balance and harmony of all elements in style and iconography.
Mathura art flourished during Kushana period. Numbers of sculptures of Buddha and Brahmanical deities were carved which included Kartikeya, Vishnu, Kubera in Mathura art.
Amravati art flourished during Satavahanas and Ikshavaku rules. The main characteristic of the Amravati school is the “narrative art”. The medallions were carved in such a manner that they depict an incident in a natural way ex: taming of an elephant by Buddha.
Gupta art shows an emphasis on Hindu art carried from Kushana period and the climax of Buddha art and all combined tendencies of Amravati School seen at Udayagiri caves where narrative Vishnu figures can be seen. Gupta art also showed exemplary tolerance for both Buddhism and Jainism.
So, it can be concluded that Gupta sculpture is the logical outcome of early art forms of Kushana and Satavahanas period.