The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c6.10

c6.10

The Bas-reliefs of Barhut. — Thus familiarized afresh with the jâtakas, you will not be surprised to note that the sculptors charged with the decoration of the ancient Buddhist edifices of central India have drawn copious inspirations therefrom. Not only did they, as we believe we have demonstrated above (²), feel themselves under less restraint in the treatment of subjects of this kind, but moreover no subject could answer better to the needs and the aim of the artist. Seeing that it was a question of religious foundations, that aim was quite naturally the edification of the faithful, both sedentary and pilgrim : and what could