Indian Art: Forms, Concerns and Development in Historical Perspective (History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization)

The volumes of the PROJECT ON THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURE IN INDIAN CIVILIZATION aim at discovering the main aspects of India's heritage and present them in an interrelated way. These volumes, in spite of their unitary look, recognize the difference between the areas of material civilization and those of ideational culture. The Project is not being executed by a single group of thinkers and writers who are methodologically uniform or ideologically identical in their commitments. In fact contributions are made by different scholars with different ideological persuasions and methodological approaches. The Project is marked by what may be called 'methodological pluralism'.

In spite of its primary historical character, this Project, both in its conceptualization and execution, has been shaped by many scholars drawn from different disciplines. It is for the firs time that an endeavour of such a unique and comprehensive character has been undertaken to study critically a major world civilization like India.

This volume offers essays by some of the most eminent art historians of India. The subject range from Gandhara to Kerala, classical to folk arts and ancient times to the place of traditional arts in the world of today. Each essay is an authoritative work by an expert in the field. Although they cover a wide range, the contributions share an interest I the artist, and the social and philosophical context of his work. The proceedings of the seminar, distinguished by lively discussions, have been transcribed and included here. The exchanges between scholars, as recorded here, and the essays presented, contain fresh insights and much new material. There are assessments here off work done, and pointers towards the direction in which the volume of art history in India might lie.

The volume with its fifteen papers and index is a source book of great value to interested scholars of fine arts and general readers alike.

About the Author:

D.P. CHATTOPADHYAYA, after obtaining his Ph.D. degrees from Calcutta University and London School of Economics, taught philosophy at Jadavpur University, Calcutta. He is the founder Chairman of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, New Delhi. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Centre for Studies in Civilizations, and General editor of this Project.

Chattopadhyaya is one the propounders of interdisciplinary studies in the country with his wide knowledge on philosophy, political theory, economics, history and science. His publications include Individuals and Societies: A Methodological Inquiry (1967); History, Individuals and World (1976), Rupa, Rasa O Sundara (in Bengali, 1980); Sri Aurobindo and Karl Marx (1988); Anthropology and Historiogrphy of Science (1990); Induction, Probability and Skepticism (1991); Sociology, Ideology and Utopia (1997).

B.N. GOSWAMY, distinguished art historian, was till recently Professor of Art History at the Panjab University, Chandigarh. A leading authority on Indian art, his work especially in the area of Pahari painting, is widely regarded as having influenced much thinking. He has written extensively. Among his publications are: Pahari Painting: (The family as the Basis of Style (Marg, Bombay, 1968); Painters at the Sikh Court (Wiesbaden, 1975); Essence of Indian Art (San Francisco, 1986); Wonders of Golden Age (Zurich, 1987); Pahari Masters: Court Painters of Northern India (Zurich, 1992); Indian Costumes in the Collection of the Calico Museum of Textiles (Ahmedabad, 1993); Nainsukh of Guler: A Great Indian Painter from a Small Hill State (Zurich, 1997); and Painted Visions: The Goenka Collection of Indian Painting (New Delhi, 1999).

KAVITA SINGH worked on the Indian picture Showmen tradition for her Ph.D. She has been a contributor to Marg, and wrote for the volume, Indian Paintings: Essays in Honour of Karl Khundalavala. Presently, Research Editor of Marg, a journal of the arts, she is also engaged in working on the Binney collection of Indian paintings in San Diego.

Free Shipping. Delivered by to all international destinations within 3 to 5 days, fully insured.