Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c11.66

c11.66

The pillars consist of a long tapering shaft ranging from about 40' to 50' in length, and a capital generally in the form of an animal, fixed on the top of the shaft, both being carved out of single blocks of stone. The pillars represent the highest skill of the Mauryan artists by their noble stature, pleasing proportions, high finish, gloss-like polish and above all, by the magnificence of the capitals executed with skilled mastery of long training. If to this is added the depth of meaning that goes with the symbolism of the capitals, we have something which is unique in the entire field of Indian art activity, and to which there is hardly a parallel in world art. A study of the style of these capitals reveals some kind of chronological sequence as follows :—