South Indian Bronzes: A Historical Survey of South Indian Sculpture with Iconographical Notes Based on Original Sources c9.47

c9.47

The oldest example of a South Indian bronze image that I have been able to discover (Plate II) is from the Rijk Ethnographisch Museum at Leiden. It was found in Java and although the exact locality where it was discoverd is not known, it affords every interesting comparison with the later Saivaite images similar in purpose and inspiration. In its style and pose, and the general archaic character it certainly points to a period much anterior (by at least two or three centuries) to the great school of copper sculpture which rose under the Cholas. It cannot possibly be attributed to Javanese artists as it is so different to any images and sculptures that have been found in Java. It therefore supports the tradition referred to by Dr. Vogel² and others that during the intercourse with Java and India many images were taken from the Indian continent. It was long after the Indian civilization had been engrafted in Java that the great Indo-Javanese School of Sculpture arose, the Buddhist school dating after 431 A.D. when Java was first converted to Buddhism. The figure undoubtedly belongs to the period of the earlier colonization of Java by India, which was a Hindu as distinguished from a Buddhist immigration. The Buddhist colony in Java was much later in date. According to a tradition recorded by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles "the religion and arts of India were first introduced into Java by a Brahmin named Tritestra"³ about 77 A.D. This is attributed according to a Chinese annal to A.D. 25-57.⁴ According to Burnell⁵ this immigration suggests a connection with the kingdom of "the Pallavas than with any other part of India."⁶ About the time when Vishnugopa Salibāhana reigned in Kānchipuram, a large colony is said to have emigrated from the coast of Telingana and settled in Java An inscription found there, belonging to about the fifth century A.D. is probably the work of this people." There is no doubt the Roman world, and the most important events of the reign of Antoninus Pius, are related by his biographer, and the reader will not be sorry to find them here in a more concise form. The reign of Antoninus Pius is marked by the rare advantage of furnishing very few materials for history; which is only another mode of saying that its happiness was complete. During the twenty-three years of his administration, the Roman empire was governed by the same invariable maxims of justice and peace. The natives of a vast extent of country were protected by the same laws, and enjoyed the same privileges. The frontiers were defended by the same legions, and the same spirit of moderation and equity prevailed in the councils of the emperor. The death of Antoninus was lamented as a public calamity; and the memory of his virtues was preserved by the gratitude of his subjects, and the imitation of his successor.