The style of architecture associated with Mathura sculptures is called:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Mathura style
Explanation
The style of art and sculpture associated with the ancient sculptures discovered in and around Mathura is called the Mathura style (or Mathura School of Art). It developed indigenously in northern India and reached its golden zenith during the reign of the Kushana emperors between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE.
Unlike the contemporary Gandhara school, which was heavily influenced by Greco-Roman artistic traditions, the Mathura style was entirely indigenous. Sculptures from this school are instantly recognizable by their use of spotted red sandstone sourced from Sikri. The Mathura school is highly significant because it was one of the earliest to produce anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha, carving him with full spiritual vigor, a round face, and a prominent halo. Beyond Buddhist art, it also pioneered the simultaneous creation of early Brahmanical (Hindu) deities like Vishnu and Shiva, alongside Jain Tirthankara icons.
The other choices represent distinct architectural and art traditions:
Gandhara style is a distinct synchronized hybrid art form that fused Greek and Roman realism with Indian Buddhist themes, localized in the northwestern frontier.
Dravidian style is a prominent south Indian temple architectural philosophy characterized by pyramid-shaped stepped towers known as Vimanas.
Mughal style is an early modern Islamic architectural synthesis of Persian, Turkish, and regional Indian designs that emerged centuries later in the 16th century.
Key Points
The primary material utilized by the artisans of the Mathura school was local spotted red sandstone, which sets it visually apart from the grey schist used in Gandhara.
Images of the Buddha crafted in the Mathura school depict him with a shaved head, an energetic facial expression, and drapery that fits closely over the body, usually covering only the left shoulder.
The Mathura school enjoyed immense patronization from the Kushana empire, particularly under the rule of King Kanishka, turning Mathura into a vital spiritual trade hub.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which secular king's famous headless statue, wearing an embroidered tunic and heavy boots, is an iconic example of the Mathura School of Art?
Answer: Emperor Kanishka.
Question: Which religious tradition's spiritual teachers, the Tirthankaras, were carved extensively with an auspicious Srivatsa mark on their chests by the Mathura artisans?
Answer: Jainism.