Indian sculpture

• Stungkel's description of Indian sculpture

  After the Gupta period, Indian sculpture followed narrow conventions of physical type for images of men and women, including gods and mortals.
• Gupta Period Convention


  After the Gupta period, Indian sculpture followed conventions for men, including a wide chest, wide shoulders, thin waist, smooth round limbs, and a little stomach roll, but no detailed anatomical definition.
• Men's Physical Characteristics


  Indian sculpture depicted men with a wide chest, wide shoulders, thin waist, smooth round limbs, and a little stomach roll, but without detailed anatomical definition.
• Women's Physical Characteristics


  Indian sculpture depicted women with broad hips, large and firm breasts, and a posture featuring three bends in the neck, shoulders, and hips, with a slight protrusion in the lower abdomen and lots of jewelry.
• Contrapposto Posture


  A common pose in Indian sculpture featuring a standing figure with one bent and one straight leg, indicating the distribution of weight and forces in a free standing figure.
• Khajuraho Example


  The temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, is a notable example of Indian sculptures, showcasing the described characteristics in its wall sculptures.
• Purpose of Indian Sculpture

  Indian sculpture was primarily used to adorn temples and shrines, and sculptural forms were used to acknowledge resident gods, provide protection from evil forces, and sanctuaries.
• Wood Carvings


  Wood carvings influenced the design of façades in cave temples.
• Building Materials


  In Hinduism, wood was used for female deities, while stones and bricks were used for male gods.
• Architecture and Sculpture


  According to Stungkel (2011), architecture and sculpture merged as the same craft in Indian temples.