The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c28.s1.5

c28.s1.5

Upon the great arched frontispiece of the main tower, beneath the Hoysaḷa group, is some superb arabesque carving in very bold relief (Plates CXIII and CXIV). The central image, which occupied the niche, within the arch, has gone, if, indeed, it had ever been put up, and, now, a dilapidated tiled roof, erected above the leaking maṇḍapa roof, abuts, most mercilessly, against the beautiful sculpture. Around the soffit of the arched niche, over the image, are aṣṭadikpālas, several of which have been broken away. The work around the arch, and especially the beautiful pendant falling from the mouth of the kīrtimukha mask are splendid specimens of the sculptor's art. The free and rich profusion of florid scrolls, curling boldly away from the block on which it is carved, looks more like a prolific crop of some lovely acanthus-like plant which, in the distant past, had covered the walls and had become petrified there. The sculptor knew, too, full well, the value of high relief and deep shadows when placing these objects high above the ground and distant from the observer. And yet there is much fine detail that is lost to the observer upon the ground. Still there is no weakness about this magnificently-cut kīrtimukha mask; on the contrary, it is remarkably strong—strong in its broad treatment, strong in its splendid outline, and strong in its vigorous lights and shadows