Indian Sculpture c8.224

c8.224

The principle of composition in these images (Figs. 84 and 85) is to bind up the single parts with the main figure. This may be done by twining them—modelled form as well as dark interval—around it, and they may be locked up in the centre. Or from the centre they may be placed diagonally (Fig. 84), with the groups of attendant figures and symbols below as well as above the hands, their diagonal connections intersecting at the navel. But whether grouped around the centre or starting from the centre, whether of flowing and tube-like shape (Fig. 85) or coagulated and knobby (Fig. 84), the principle is the same, i.e. to fill a stele with reference to the main image.