Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c21.s2.t2.6

v2.c21.s2.t2.6

2. The detached images of Buddha in Barabuḍur (Pl. XIII), and of Bodhisatvas in Mendut (Pl. XIV) may be regarded as the finest products of Indo-Javanese sculpture. Fine modelling, as far as it is compatible with absence of muscular details, refined elegance of features, tasteful pose, close-fitting smooth robe and a divine spiritual expression of face are the chief characteristics of these figures. The art must have, therefore, been ultimately derived from the classical art of the Gupta period in India. This point, though recognised by some, has not yet been very forcefully brought out, but the more one studies the images of the Barabuḍur group the more is one impressed with the essential characteristics of the Gupta age which they display. The following observations on the Gupta images by a distinguished art critic may be applied, without any qualification, to the Indo-Javanese images of this period.