Indian Sculpture c8.221

c8.221

The goddess carries rosary, lotus, book and water vessel, and on her crown the image of a Tīrthaṃkara. Her companions hold each a lute (vīṇā), the donor and his wife worship at her feet. Scroll with Haṃsa-vāhana, etc., on pedestal; lotus halo, and flame border of pointed stele, a flying Gandharva on either side. Viewed against the largeness of classical sculpture, an elaboration of details of jewellery, etc., and of the texture of the skin (treatment of abdomen) are peculiar to this image. A slackness and stiffening at the same time of the threefold flexion of the body goes hand in hand with an over-strained sensitiveness of the fingers. A softening of the plastic, and a hardening of the linear element (outline of the right leg, lotus device, etc.) enter upon an ambiguous combination, which leads to a novel physiognomy artistically as well as psychologically (see the face).