MATHURA SCHOOL OF ART

MATHURA ART
Mathura Art was a new style of art originated
in Ancient India. It reached its glory during the
period of the Kushans. It was originated in
Mathura, in Western UP. It is known as
Mathura school of art. It was purely an Indian
origin art
Jawaharlal Nehru- It is something original and
vital and in no way derived from the Greco-
Buddhist art
 STYLE OF MATHURA ART
• Purely Indian origin
• Originated from Bharhut and Sanchi art
• Use of Red sand stone
• Reflect emotions, spirituality and religious
grace
• Secular representation of female figures-
playing with parrot, natural background
 THEME OF MATHURA ART
Like Gandhara art, Buddha and his life was the
main theme of Mathura art. Mathura became a
workshop for making images of Buddha. Hindu
and Jain divine characters were also made in
Mathura art. Main themes are-
• Buddha, Boddhisattvas
• Jain Thirthankaras
• Yaksha and Yakshies
• Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, Ganesh, Karthikeya,
Indra, Agni, Surya, Krishna, Lakshmi, Saraswathi,
Parvati and Durga
BODHISATVAS
BUDDHA WITH HALLOW
BUDDHA
SEATED BUDDHA
 MASTER CRAFTS OF MATHURA ART
Some masterpieces of the Mathura art are-
• Statue of Wema Kadphises
• Lakshmi
• Kushan king Kanishka
• Goddess of Lakshmi standing in the midst of a
lotus
• Kushan king Havishka
• King Vasudeva
• Kushan Princes
• Commanders and soldiers
SEATED BUDDHA
BUDDHA IN MEDITATION
 FEATURES OF MATHURA ART
• Purely Indian origin
• Main theme Buddha and his life
• Buddha- no long hair, moustache and beard
• Buddha image decorated with upper and lower
cloths
• Reflect spirituality, emotion and religious grace
• Buddha as in seating position-in throne
• Female figure carved on pillars-a woman playing
with parrot, a woman standing under an Asoka
tree, etc.
STATUE OF BUDDHA
STATUE OF BUDDHA
STATUE OF BUDDHA
GODDESS SARASWATHI
STATUE GOD VISHNU
HEADLESS STATUE OF KANISHKA
 LASTING LEGACY OF MATHURA ART
• Mathura art become popular in India and
central Asia
• Influenced the art tradition of India
• Influenced Gupta art
• Influenced, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art,
sculpture and architecture
• Making of the images of Gods and Goddesses
become widespread in India