DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0281
JUNNAR. 259
Bharliut,1 that there can be little doubt that they are of about the
same age. The material, however, in which they are executed, and
their purposes are so different, that it would be impossible, from that
alone, to say which of the two is the earliest Over and outside these
the facade of the great arch projects, with ribs in imitation of wooden
rafters under it. On each side the finial is a male figure : that on
the left holds a chcmri and has wings, and some animal's head above
his jaunty turban; the other holds some object in his right hand,
and behind each shoulder are two snake-heads with their tongues
hanging out. Eight and left of these are dagobas in high relief,
but roughly formed; and on the right of the arch is a tree with
objects hanging in it, but it has never been quite finished, parts
being only outlined. On the projecting frieze over all are seven
Chaitya-window ornaments, with smaller ones between their finials,
and two on the faces of each jamb. Inside the cave, three octagonal
pillars on the right side are blocked out, as is also the dagoba, but
without the capital. There is a horizontal soft stratum in the rock,
which has probably led to the work being relinquished in its present
unfinished state. This is very much to be regretted, as the whole
design of this cave is certainly the most daring, though it can hardly
be called the most successful, attempt on the part of the early cave
architects to emancipate themselves from the trammels of the
wooden style they were trying to adapt to lithic purposes. At
Barabar in the Lomas Rishi (woodcut 3) they only introduced ele-
phants and trellis work, which we know from the Sanchi gateways
were probably executed in wood and could easily have been so
introduced. It would, however, have been very difficult to execute
such a seven-leafed flower as this, in pierced work, even in wood,
but it was an artistic mistake to introduce it above the real con-
structive opening, on a false front, as is done in this instance. The
sptem here begun was afterwards carried to an extreme issue in the
^andhara monasteries, where figures were introduced everywhere, and
architecture only used as a framo such as we employ for pictures
Woodcut 38). Though its employment here is a solecism, this bas-
^hef is one of the most interesting pieces of sculpture for the
ustory of the art, to be found in the whole range of the western
caves.
Stupa at Bharliut, Pis. XII. and XXXVI. See also Hist, of Ltd. and East. Arc/,.,
P- 88, woodcut 27.
R 2
Bharliut,1 that there can be little doubt that they are of about the
same age. The material, however, in which they are executed, and
their purposes are so different, that it would be impossible, from that
alone, to say which of the two is the earliest Over and outside these
the facade of the great arch projects, with ribs in imitation of wooden
rafters under it. On each side the finial is a male figure : that on
the left holds a chcmri and has wings, and some animal's head above
his jaunty turban; the other holds some object in his right hand,
and behind each shoulder are two snake-heads with their tongues
hanging out. Eight and left of these are dagobas in high relief,
but roughly formed; and on the right of the arch is a tree with
objects hanging in it, but it has never been quite finished, parts
being only outlined. On the projecting frieze over all are seven
Chaitya-window ornaments, with smaller ones between their finials,
and two on the faces of each jamb. Inside the cave, three octagonal
pillars on the right side are blocked out, as is also the dagoba, but
without the capital. There is a horizontal soft stratum in the rock,
which has probably led to the work being relinquished in its present
unfinished state. This is very much to be regretted, as the whole
design of this cave is certainly the most daring, though it can hardly
be called the most successful, attempt on the part of the early cave
architects to emancipate themselves from the trammels of the
wooden style they were trying to adapt to lithic purposes. At
Barabar in the Lomas Rishi (woodcut 3) they only introduced ele-
phants and trellis work, which we know from the Sanchi gateways
were probably executed in wood and could easily have been so
introduced. It would, however, have been very difficult to execute
such a seven-leafed flower as this, in pierced work, even in wood,
but it was an artistic mistake to introduce it above the real con-
structive opening, on a false front, as is done in this instance. The
sptem here begun was afterwards carried to an extreme issue in the
^andhara monasteries, where figures were introduced everywhere, and
architecture only used as a framo such as we employ for pictures
Woodcut 38). Though its employment here is a solecism, this bas-
^hef is one of the most interesting pieces of sculpture for the
ustory of the art, to be found in the whole range of the western
caves.
Stupa at Bharliut, Pis. XII. and XXXVI. See also Hist, of Ltd. and East. Arc/,.,
P- 88, woodcut 27.
R 2