Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c7.99

c7.99

Many archæologists have discussed this characteristic effacement of the muscular system in Indian sculpture and painting without arriving at the true explanation. Dr. Leemans, in his great work on Bôrôbudûr, notices as curious that "the very imperfect manner of drawing the muscles" is accompanied with the most complete finish of other details of the statues, such as the ornaments, flowers, and jewels. He adds that the hair, the eyes, nose, mouth, sometimes the teeth and nails of the fingers and toes, are executed nearly always with admirable care and fidelity. But he contents himself with the suggestion that the Hindu horror of pollution prevented Indian artists from dissecting the dead body to obtain a sufficient knowledge of anatomy.