A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day c7.42

c7.42

The judgement of M. Le Bon, that Indian art is distinguished by ‘striking originality’, may, I think, be accepted. Notwithstanding the endless diversity of races, creeds, customs, and languages, India as a whole has a character of her own which is reflected in her art. A peculiar people necessarily produces a peculiar and essentially original art. India, of course, has borrowed many things from abroad during the long course of the ages, but it is a trite observation, easily proved by many instances, that she always so transmutes her borrowings as to make them her own. Such transmutation is equivalent to originality.