The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c7.15

c7.15

The artists pay considerable attention to details and ornamentation revealing the classical taste of the age. Buttoned coats and trousers of the king look graceful (Pl. IV. 12; II. 5), as also his pearl-bordered cap (Pl. III. 5, 15) and the crest on his crown (Pl. VIII. 7). His hair is shown in a variety of ways; sometimes it is frizzled (Pl. XII. 6), sometimes it is falling in graceful tresses (Pl. IV. 13), and sometimes it looks like a wig (Pl. X. 11-15). The ornaments of ladies do not shroud them as happens in later art; they are few and graceful (Pl. I. 8-13; III. 6-14). Their *sārīs* and draperies reveal their charm without any offence to decency (Pl. III. 7-8). The mane of the horse is nicely pleated and its plumage and accoutrements is shown in an attractive manner (Pl. III. 6-7; X. 11-12).