Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c12.208

c12.208

Mr. Tagore has probably not yet arrived at the full development of all his powers, either in technique or in artistic expression, but his influence on the future of Indian painting is likely to be far-reaching. Naturally, being well versed both in Sanskrit and Persian literature, he seeks inspiration from the great epics of India, and from the poems of Kalidasa and Omar Khayyam. And, being gifted with a fine imaginative faculty, he does not, like his predecessor, Ravi Vurma, make khitmutghars pose for the heroes of the Mahâbhârata, ayahs for Radha or the lovely Sîtâ, and ugly coolie women for the *rakshinis*—the dread demonesses of the primeval forest—but gives us a true interpretation of Indian spirituality and an insight into that higher world, the fairyland of Eastern poetry and romance which Eastern thought has created.