Indian Art and

Culture

Visual Art

Performing Art

Visual Art

Indian Architecture
Indian Sculpture
Indian Pottery
Indian Paintings

Miscellaneous
Art &
Culture Topics

Miscellaneous Art
&Culture Topics

Performing Art

Indian Music
Dance Forms
Indian Theatre
Indian puppetry
Indian Circus

Indian cinema
Languages in India
Religions in India
Indian Literature
Indian Philosophy
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Calenders
Fares and Festivals
Cultural Aspects
related to
Medicine,Maths,
Astronomy,coinage,
weights & measures
Awards
Cultural Institutions
Issue of Stolen Art &
Artifacts

Indian
Architecture

Ancient India

1. Harappan
(2500-1800
BC)

2. Mauryan
Art (Around
300 BC)

3. Post
Mauryan Art

4.Gupta Age
(319 AD-6th
Century)

5.Developments
in South India

Medeival India

Delhi
Sultanate
(1206-1526)

Imperial Style
(Developed by
Empire, A
state Initiative)

Mugals (152618th Century)

Provincial
Style (Other
Than Empire)

Slave Dynasty
(1209-1290)

Jaunpur

Khilijis (12901320)

Malwa

Tuglaq(1320-)

Bijapur

Lodhi

Modern India

Babur
Humayun
Akbar
Shah Jahan
Aurangzeb

Indo- Gothic
Style

Neo-Roman
Style

Architecture
Architecture refers to designing
of & construction of Buildings
In architecture various types of
materials are used i.e, stone,
wood, glass, metal etc.
Architecture involves study of
Engineering and Engineering
Mathematics and depends
upon measurement.

Sculpture
Sculpture is a 3-D work of art.
Sculpture is made up of single
piece of material.

Sculpture involves creativity

and imagination, may not
depend on measurement

HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION, the Bronze Age

I.

Seals:
a. Seals are Square or rectangular or circular or triangular piece of material
(mainly stones) with an average size of 2x 2. Dominantly square seals were
found. On them, we find pictographic scripts along with animal impressions
which are yet to be deciphered.
b. Seals are made up of Steatite (a river soft stone). Evidence of Copper, gold
and ivory seal has also been found in some instances.
c. 5 Signs or symbols on an average are present on a seal.
d. Direction of writing is right to left.
e. Seals are decorated with animal motifs such as unicorn, bull, rhinoceros, tiger
elephant, bison, goat, buffalo etc, . (Except Cow).
f. Inscriptions or human figures are present in both sides of the seals.
g. Even in some cases, these are present on all 3 sides.

Significance/Purpose of seal:
i.
ii.

iii.

Mainly used as a unit of trade and commerce.

Also used as amulets (mainly copper seals). Found and dead bodies and had a hole for
wearing.(Amulets: A trinket or piece of jewellery usually hung about the neck and
thought to be a magical protection against evil or disease).
Also used as an educational tool(Since some contained like inscriptions).

Examples : Pashupathi Seal, Unicorn seal,.

II.

Terracotta Figures (Sculptures)

Terracotta = fired baked clay.
These figures are hand-made using pinching method.
Example: Mother Goddess ,
Toy carts with wheels,
Birds and animals, etc,.

III.

Bronze Sculptures
Bronze casting was practised on a wide scale under Harappan art.
The technique used for casting is known as Lost-wax technique
Under this technique, at first was figures are covered with a coating of clay and allowed to
dry. Then it is heated and the molten wax is allowed to drain out through a tiny hole at the
bottom of the clay cover. The hallow mould is then filled with bronze or any other metal.
Once the metal is cooled, the clay is removed.
Excavations where it was prominent