Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c21.44

v3.c21.44

In this connection, it would be interesting to note that, according to the canons of European art, a well-proportioned male figure is equal to eight times the length of the head : in other words is *aṣṭa-tāla* in height; that of a female figure is seven and a half times that of a head, or *sārdha-sapta-tāla*. According to European artists the ear is said to extend from a line drawn across the side of the head on a level with the eye brow, and another which is drawn on a level with the wing of the nose : or, in the language of Indian artists between the *bhrū-sūtra* and the *nāsā-puṭa-sūtra*. Similarly the other rules arrived at by the Indian artist do not appear to be divergent from those evolved by the European artist, and if in Indian sculpture the results are not good in some instances it is the fault of the artist and not attributable to the guide-books. The similarity of the limbs of the body as compared with various natural objects such as for instance, the nose with the sesamum flower and the trunk composed of the chest and abdomen with the face of a cow are very well pointed out with reference to a number of illustrations by Mr. Abanindranath Tagore in his excellent article entitled ‘Indian Iconography’ contributed to the Modern Review for March 1914.