Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c8.21

c8.21

The sculptured stone rails which enclosed the procession-paths at Bharhut, Sanchi and Amarâvati have been minutely described and illustrated in archæological works; and as they by no means represent the highest type of Indian sculpture it is unnecessary to enter into detailed critical examination of them. Artistically they are extremely interesting because they illustrate the development of Indian sculpture from the time of Asoka (263-221 b.c.), to whose reign the Bharhut rail is attributed, down to about a.d. 170, the supposed date of the later Amarâvati sculptures.