Pattern and Ornament in the Arts of India

Download or read book Pattern and Ornament in the Arts of India written by Henry Wilson and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2011-10-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The richness of the arts of India is overwhelming, and perhaps most noticeably so in its architecture. This innovative volume reveals the exquisite detail of the decorative compositions, their finesse, precision, and creativity. It also highlights the skill, patience, and pictorial imagination of the many thousands of craftsmen and their patrons. The timeline runs for almost two thousand years, from the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi of the first century BC/AD to Rajput palace interiors of c. 1900. Hundreds of atmospheric photo- graphs are juxtaposed with graphic transpositions of the designs, patterns, and ornamentation to reveal the nature of the architectural detail, where stone, wood, mirror work, and plaster are transformed into masterworks of decorative art.