AMARAVATI SCHOOL OF ART

Amaravati School represents the evolution of uniquely beautiful regional art sty
le based on a
thriving commercial and imperial system.
The Amravati Stupas began about the time of Christ but the perfection of form an
d proportion seen
in the middle phase of Amaravati as well as some of the themes continued to in??
uence art at
Nagarjuankonda and also later Vakataka and Gupta art styles.
It shows a mastery of stone sculpture. The monuments at Jaggayyapera, Nagarjunakonds and
Amaravati are some examples.
All the railings of the Amaravati stupa are made out of marble while the dome it
self is covered
with slabs of the same material. Currently, the entire stupa is in ruins. Fragme
nts of its railings have
been partly taken to the British Museum.
The ??gures of Amaravati have slim blithe features and they are represented in m
ost di??cult poses
and curves.
Features of Amravati School of Art
The stupas at Amaravati are predominantly made of a distinctive white marble.
The sculptures at Amaravati have a profound and quiet naturalism in human, anima
l and ??oral
forms. There is a sense of movement and energy in the sculptures.
The human ??gures are slender and slightly elongated.
The faces are oval with sharp and well delineated and expressive features.
The animals such as makaras have scaly naturalism and the vegetation environment
is lush
There is emphasis on the narrative element with stories from the life of Buddha
and bodhisattva
dominating such episodes relating to the Birth, the miracles,