Maurya and Shunga Art c7.12

c7.12

The animal reliefs on the abacus are all worked almost in the round showing deep contrast of light and shade. Technically therefore they are far in advance to that row of pecking geese that decorates the Rampurva lion abacus though the latter is very realistically treated and imparts a sense a movement that comes from life itself. One of the four animals of the Sarnath abacus is that of a galloping horse very spirited in movement; its modelling and treatment of plastic volume partake of the same conventional attitude and execution as those of the lions discussed above. This is equally applicable to the two other animals on the abacus, namely, the vigorously striding lion and the humped Indian bull, the forms and types in each case having been already fixed by convention. The only animal on the abacus that is treated in a different manner and viewed from a different attitude is the elephant slowly striding forward. It is much less conventional and the modelling shows a more realistic feeling for plasticity of volume, though the form has been but inadequately realised. Compared to the Dhauli elephant the elephant of the Sarnath abacus looks like an wooden toy.