Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c7.28

c7.28

It was not until Sir William Jones translated *Sakuntala* that modern Europe began to give India the credit of any literature worth serious attention, except that of a philosophic or ritualistic character; and as literary interests are far more widespread and influential than those which are purely artistic, it is natural that they should take precedence in the progress of mutual understanding between the East and West. There are also many special reasons why Indian fine art should have remained so long a *terra incognita* to Europeans.