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The practice of artistic skill and patronage in ancient India is nothing like the modern-day emphasis on the individual and their artistic expression. Scarcely documented, whatever records we have of this art form belong to workshops. Other than a few names, little is known of the individual sculptors who put together the vast repository, some contemporary likes of which are to be found in this section.
Shared region and date characterise many styles that often spread across different religious traditions - often, the same artisans catered to patrons of varying religions. Having been the preferred form of art for the service of religion over painting and architecture, Indian sculptural tradition is considered one of the world's greatest.
Because religious devotion has played such a significant role in the production and propagation of sculpture in the subcontinent, works in stone are more in abundance than metals, wood, ivory, and terracotta. Stone is durable and especially conducive to darshana, a Sanskrit word that could be loosely translated to auspicious visual perception. Visual images such as in these sculptures are purported to manifest the deity, so the sculpture in question is a way to set eyes on and be seen by the divine Itself.
Indian stone Statues were meant as deep reliefs designed with numberless imponderables in mind. There is often an overemphasis on iconography and a resorting to highly specific textual descriptions of the deity manifested in a given work of art, which defeats the purpose of this form of art.
Extant records state that stone is about not only what is represented but also how it is represented. As manifestations of the divine, the pieces collected in this section are highly characteristic yet exquisite in terms of the skill that goes into infusing divinity into a block of stone and how regional variations are highlighted.
FAQs
Q1. What stone is best for statues?
Out of all types of stones, Marble is the most preferred among sculptors. It is easy to work with and is also considered highly durable. It can withstand even harsh weather conditions and is therefore used to make outdoor sculptures. Carving on a piece of marble gives a consistent texture which makes it easy for a sculptor to create a freestanding sculpture.
Q2. What type of stone is used for statues?
Stone has been considered the best material for making impressive statues from the ancient period. There are mainly three types of stones that sculptors use:
Marble – Marble is a soft stone and is easy to work with. Carving on a piece of marble gives a consistent texture which makes it easy for a sculptor to create a freestanding sculpture.
Granite – This is the preferred stone for making highly durable (water and heat-resistant) statues that will last many years and is best suited to sculpt exquisite outdoor figures statues.
Limestone – Limestone is softer than marble and this makes it ideal for making elegant carves and designs on the statue.
Q3. Can stone be used for sculpture?
Sculptors have been using stone for making exquisite sculptures for more than 5,000 years. A stone can be carved into various beautiful shapes and is less prone to damage or fractures. For making stone sculptures, most sculptors like to use marble, granite, limestone, or marble. Once polished, these sculptures take on a beautiful appearance and stand out from all other types of sculptures.
Q4. Which idol should not be kept in the house?
According to Vastu Shastra, a home should not have any God or Goddess's idol that is more than nine inches in height. Such sculptures, if not worshipped like they are worshiped in a temple early morning every day, may have a negative implication. The sight of God's back is not considered auspicious. Never place more than two idols or pictures of Ganesha in the house of worship. Otherwise, it will not have been auspicious. One can keep the divine trinity of Goddesses – Saraswati, Laxmi, and Durga. But, 3 idols of the same Goddess should not be kept as it can bring upheaval and bad luck to the householder.
Q5. How do you restore a stone statue?
A damaged or cracked stone statue can be restored and brought back to its perfection through a process. The first step is to clean the damaged area of the statue with mild detergent and water. Let it dry completely. Now, the gap or crack in the statue is carefully filled with Epoxy Putty using a spatula and is then set with wet fingers into the desired shape. Finally, once the putty is dried, the adhesive is applied to the crack to set the rock hard. In this way, the statue gains its previous form.
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