Art In Ancient India

Ancient India had made remarkable progress in the field of art .During the reign of Ashoka Buddhist monastries or viharas and assembly halls or chaityas and columns of various styles were erected.Some of which have still survived .The Lion Capital pillar at Sanchi is one of the remarkable piece.Stupas were built to cover the relics of the Buddha or other holymen.The sculptures depicting scenes from the life of Buddha,Chaityas were built by cutting solid rocks of which the one at Karle is the most splendid.During the Kushanas period new school of art called the Gandhara School of Art came nto being.Thousands of Buddha statues in the Gandhara style were made.While the Gandhara art was influenced by the Greek style ,the other school called the Mathura school of Art was purely indignous.It also served as the medium for depicting the scenes from the life of the Buddha.The Gupta period is known as the Golden age of Indian art.It was during this period that many beautiful temples dedicated to the Hindu Gods particularly to Lord Vishnu were built.The world famous paintings on the Ajanta and Bagh cave walls were painted during this period.The ancient Indians had made marvellous progress in the fields of art,architecture and sculpture.