A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day c17.55

c17.55

In certain cases, however, Indian sculptors chose to treat the vine motive after the European or West Asiatic manner.³ The best example of such treatment is the well-known frieze from the Upper Monastery at Nathu, Yūsufzai, which is almost a replica of a similar work at Palmyra, executed in the third century after Christ (Wood, *Palmyra*, Plate 41). The design (Plate LXXXIX, Fig. A) consists of a vine stem knotted into five circles forming small panels; the first of which, to the left, contains leaves only; the second is occupied by a boy or 'genius' plucking grapes; the third exhibits a boy playing with a goat; the fourth displays a crudely-executed goat nibbling the vine; and the fifth represents another boy plucking grapes. Fig. B in the same plate reproduces a Mathurā sculpture treating the vine after the Indian manner, and admirably executed.