Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c12.246

c12.246

We often compare the British Empire with that of Rome. The Romans, like ourselves, were an inartistic people, but when they conquered Greece they utilised the creative genius of the vanquished for strengthening the bonds of empire, and through it provided a valuable guarantee for law and order in the place of a dangerous element of unrest and discontent. Akbar, the Great Mogul, pursued the same policy with wonderful success. We, on the other hand, through incurable Philistinism and a blind adherence to European precedent, prevent Indian artists from having any share in the building up of the empire unless they accept the