Indian Sculpture c8.260

c8.260

Sculptures from western Bengal have a vigour and sternness of their own. With a discipline of the tightly-stretched and rounded surface go widely-flung curves, as they are peculiar to the sculptures in Orissā. But they have none of the gliding sinuousness, and seem arrested in their own solidity. The earnestness of the flattened physiognomy is not alleviated by the intricacy of the ornaments (see specially the interlaced and flat chains of the jewel-studded dhoti). Physiognomy and ornaments, etc., tightly fit a plastic conception, which makes the image most akin to the intentions of the śāstras.