A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day c7.35

c7.35

Hindu sculpture is commonly reproached for the faults of ignoring anatomical detail in the representation of the human form, and modelling the body and limbs with a rounded, unnaturally smooth surface. It is true that the Indian sculptor, as a rule, and particularly in the mediaeval period, does not attempt to model realistically all muscular details. But his omission to do so is not due to incapacity. Dr. Coomaraswamy has shown conclusively that it is intentional and essential to the Hindu ideal as prescribed by the scriptures. The capacity of Hindu artists for correct modelling is demonstrated by their successful treatment of hands, which in many cases is admirably expressive. Numerous proofs of this statement will be found in the illustrations. The Indian generalized treatment of the body and limbs is not such a violent departure from the facts of nature as might be supposed by a European critic, because the Hindu body is ordinarily much more smooth and rounded than that of Europeans. If the reader will compare the Toluvila Buddha with the Sinhalese native seated beside the image in the same posture, as seen in the photograph (Chap. III), it will be apparent that the conventional generalization has not to be carried very far.